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Sanctions have not hit business relations, says Celeste

US ambassador to India Richard Celeste has said that in spite of his country's economic sanctions, imposed after the Pokhran nuclear tests, relations between the business communities of both the countries were positive.

Speaking at a function organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, western region in Bhopal yesterday, Celeste said the relationship between US business houses, scientists and technocrats and their Indian counterparts was not affected by the sanctions.

Referring to US investment in Madhya Pradesh, he said the policymakers must judge such potential from a long-term perspective.

He said the state was an ideal location for catering to the distribution requirements of the vast Indian market.

He said it was important to choose the right business partners in the US who, in turn, would promote the state as an ideal location for investment.

Celeste also said India and Pakistan should find a solution to the Kashmir issue through bilateral talks.

He said he was misquoted by the media as saying in Pune that the Kashmir issue was not an internal matter of India and Pakistan.

Asked whether the US was in favour of mediation to find a solution to the issue, the ambassador quipped, ''We are in favour of encouraging both the countries to have bilateral talks."

He said the continued to be the basis for the talks.

Celeste said his country had no basis yet to lift sanctions against India.

The economic sanctions were imposed as a matter of law because of the nuclear tests conducted by India in May this year, he said, adding that there was a proposal to modify the law to waive some of the sanctions. ''It was for the US president to take a decision,'' he said.

''We want India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and join the efforts to cap and stop production of fissile material,'' he said.

Asked about the talks between Planning Commission vice-chairman Jaswant Ingh and US deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbott, on the nuclear issue, the US ambassador said it was very constructive and could prove productive. ''They are dealing with very difficult issues," he said, and an early breakthrough did not seem to be imminent.

Stating that Jaswant Singh was presenting the Indian government's interests in a forthright manner, he said it may take some time to reach some solution.

Replying to a question about the alleged double standards of the US in dealing with cross-border terrorism, Celeste said his country was fighting terrorist organisations wherever they were. ''We want countries to desist from encouraging or supporting cross border terrorism," he added.

Replying to a question about the delay in the extradition of Warren Anderson, chairman of Union Carbide Corporation who had been declared as an ''absconder'' by a Bhopal court for his non-appearance to face trial in the Bhopal gas tragedy case, Celeste said the extradition treaty between the US and India could be utilised to extradite him.

''I am not a legal expert. Let the Government of India act as per the legal procedure,'' he said.

Asked about the charge that the US multinational did not supply information about the antidote of the deadly methyl iso cyanate even 14 years after the tragedy, he said his assumption was that the company did everything to bring relief to the victims. ''I don't see any reason to withhold medical protocol," he added.

He said he shared the sentiments of the victims of this terrible tragedy. ''US companies never intended this. No amount of money could make-up for the loss,'' he said.

Celeste said he did not feel that the Carbide incident would affect the prospects of US investments in Madhya Pradesh. He pointed out that most modern safety measures were being used in plants being set up even in the joint sector.

He said his country was participating in a number of power projects in the state. Procter and Gamble, one of the 15 biggest companies in the US, was eager to expand its production in the state, and this will send positive signals, he said.

UNI