Hi-tech cooperation group: quartet issues discussed

India and the US concluded a fourth meeting of their High Technology Cooperation Group HTCG today, but a final agreement is only likely ne...

India and the US concluded a fourth meeting of their High Technology Cooperation Group HTCG today, but a final agreement is only likely next month when Deputy National Security Adviser Satish Chandra travels to Washington to sign on the dotted line with his counterpart US Deputy NSA Steve Hadley.

US Undersecretary for Commerce Kenneth Juster and Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal continued their discussions in the capital today on the 8216;quartet8217; issues, namely, civilian nuclear cooperation, space, high technology and missile defence, but neither side was willing to reveal details.

8216;8216;We are now well into the process of resolving the issues, consistent with our respective laws, national security and international obligations, but entirely in the spirit of the new relationship between our two countries,8217;8217; Sibal said. Even though India is not a signatory to major non-proliferation and missile treaties, Juster said the 8216;8216;framework of these regimes is of interest to India8217;8217;. Short of cooperation in civilian nuclear technology because of its obligations to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Juster indicated that India and the US could

cooperate in areas like nuclear safety.

At the FICCI gathering, Sibal pointed out that the key purpose of the dialogue was 8216;8216;explore ways in which restrictions and barriers could be overcome8217;8217; on the 8216;quartet8217; issues. 8216;8216;The task is not easy, specially because the Indo-US bilateral relationship exists in a broader international context, and there are historical legacies to contend with8230;Situated as India is, in an arc of strategic proliferation, its understanding of the consequences of proliferation and commitment to preventing it is second to none,8217;8217; Sibal said.

Juster sought to differentiate between sanctions imposed after India8217;s N-tests in 1998 to licensing requirements of the US government for the sale and transfer of items that could be put to possible dual-use.