Apparently unhappy over US President George W Bush's contention that the assured fuel supplies are "not legally binding", India last night asserted that the 123 agreement, when operational, will be a "legal document" in accordance with "well-recognised principles" of international law and the Law of Treaties.
The Ministry of External Affairs said India's civil nuclear cooperation with the US will be "guided" only by the 123 agreement which clearly spells out the respective rights and obligations of the two countries.
"The text of the India-US 123 agreement has been agreed upon by the governments of India and the United States. It is a public document," MEA spokesman Navtej Sarna said while responding to questions over Bush's contention that the assured fuel supplies to India are "not legally binding".
Bush's memorandum to the US Congress, while presenting the 123 agreement for consideration, said the accord records certain political commitments concerning reliable nuclear fuel supply assurances but does not transform them into legally binding commitments.
Sarna said "once this (123) inter-governmental agreement enters into force, the agreement would become a legal document in accordance with well-recognised principles of international law and the Law of Treaties".
