Singh lauds nuclear deal with U.S.

NEW DELHI, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his independence day message Friday, spoke of the importance of the civilian nuclear deal with the United States.

The deal will help end India's nuclear isolation and "open up new opportunities for trade in dual-use technologies, opening up new pathways to accelerate industrialization of our country," Singh told the nation from the ramparts of New Delhi's historic Red Fort as India observed the anniversary of its 1947 freedom from British rule.

The agreement "will enable us to provide electricity to meet the needs of our farmers, our artisans, our traders and our industry," Singh said, the Press Trust of India reported.

The agreement, already cleared by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, now goes to the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group and finally for ratification by U.S. Congress.

India badly needs the deal to end its 34-year-old international nuclear isolation, despite being a nuclear weapons power. Under the deal, India will get access to U.S. civilian nuclear technology and fuel which currently is not possible because India has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In return, India must allow only its civilian nuclear sites, but not its nuclear weapons facilities, to be inspected.

Singh noted India does not have sufficient uranium production and said sanctions imposed by many countries on nuclear materials trade with India had caused the country's nuclear energy program to suffer.