President George W Bush is set to sign the legislation on the Indo-US nuclear deal into law tomorrow, an occasion when India expects certain provisions of the 123 Agreement will get clarified.
Bush, who had entered into the civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh three years ago, will sign the Bill HR 7081 on the nuclear deal at the East Room of the White House tomorrow.
“The President cordially invites you to the signing of HR 7081, United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act,” read an invitation sent out by the White House.
The historic agreement could not be inked during Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s day-long visit to India on October 4 as New Delhi insisted that it would do so only after Bush signed the legislation.
India is expecting Bush to clear the American position on certain aspects like fuel supply assurances.
Ever since the Senate passed the legislation on October 1, senior officials have privately maintained that Bush will be keen on having a signing ceremony in which he will have the opportunity to thank not only members of his administration, especially at the State Department and White House who worked to secure the deal, but also lawmakers and leaders of the Indian American community.