INDIA-US JOINT PRESS STATEMENT

Washington, DC
July 20, 2007 

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon held four days of meetings in Washington July 17-20, 2007, on the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative, including talks on the bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation, also known as the 123 agreement.

In addition, National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Menon met with Vice President Cheney, Secretary Rice, Secretary Gates, and with the U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen P.Hadley.

The discussions were constructive and positive, and both Under Secretary Burns and Foreign Secretary Menon are pleased with the substantial progress made on the outstanding issues in the 123 agreement. We will now refer the issue to our governments for final review. 

Both the United States and India look forward to the completion of these remaining steps and to the conclusion of this historic Initiative.