Burns optimistic that deal won't be delayed

United States Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns has said that the administration has directed all resources into urging the Senate leadership to bring the enabling legislation assurances on the Indo-US nuclear deal to the floor of the Senate.

Burns' assurance comes at a time when two conservative Republican Senators have threatened to block the bill unless the administration drops the International Atomic Energy Agency Additional Protocol provision (Also called Title-II).

"We are working very hard to convince the Senate to set a date for the vote," Burns said.

"We are putting all our resources into this and we continue to count on the Indian-American community to support us," he said.

Burns also said that President George W Bush has been very active and has been in touch with senior members of Congress.

"We are very active and we hope very much that there will be a vote in September, but we understand the Senate agenda is crowded. But we have great confidence in the majority leadership that this vote will be scheduled and we hope very much that it will be a positive vote," he added.

Asked about the outcome of the bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation agreement -- known as the 123 Agreement – Burns said, "In fact, I am having a conversation with my Indian counterpart about the bilateral agreement. Shyam Saran and I will be talking by phone and we will meet very soon. So I hope we can get our negotiating teams together also very soon back in Delhi to make progress."