The United States Senate on Thursday took up a bill that will enable the implementation of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
Influential Senator Richard Lugar warned colleagues that he would oppose any attempts to delay or impose additional conditions on the agreement.
Lugar, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the house would not advance US national security interests by impeding the passage of the bill.
"We should not hold up the significant non- proliferation gains afforded by this initiative in order to seek a fissile material cap that India has indicated it will not consider in the absence of similar commitments by Pakistan and China," he said, making the first presentation in support of the legislation.
During the course of the day, senators are expected to debate the finer aspects of the agreement, including 18 amendments to the bill known as the United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act S 3709.
It is expected that many amendments will be settled through a voice vote.
A similar bill to implement the deal was passed by the House of Representatives on July 26. Senior Democrats like Senator John Kerry are confident the Senate will reject 'killer amendments' seen as derailing the whole accord as they would be unacceptable to India.
Lugar, who is managing the bill on the floor, urged his colleagues to approve the legislation, stressing that it is an opportunity to build a vital strategic partnership with India, a country that not only shares America's democratic values but one that will exert increasing influence on the world stage.
"We have constructed a bill that allows the US to seize an important strategic opportunity, while ensuring a strong Congressional oversight role, reinforcing US non- proliferation efforts and maintaining our responsibilities under the NPT," Lugar said.
At the start of the Senate session, both Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minority Leader Harry Reid expressed confidence that the House would take a stand on the bill either today or prior to breaking away for the Thanksgiving recess on Friday.
"I think it is so important to do whatever we can to pass this nuclear agreement that has been negotiated with India," Reid said.
"I am hopeful we can finish it today, tonight or tomorrow. There is no reason we shouldn't be able to."
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