New Delhi - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reiterated that "reciprocity" holds the key to the implementation of the July 18, 2005 civil nuclear understanding with the United States, as per Hindu.

Recalling his July 29, 2005 statement in Parliament, Dr. Singh said on Monday: "I had stressed that reciprocity was the key and we expected that the steps to be taken by India would be conditional upon and contingent on action taken by the United States."

The Prime Minister assured Parliament that no part of this process would affect or compromise the country's strategic nuclear program. According to him, the separation of the civil and military facilities was to be "conditional upon, and reciprocal to" the U.S. fulfilling its side of the understanding.
 
Stating that the nation was proud of the "tremendous work" of its nuclear scientists and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in mastering key aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, the Prime Minister promised that their "tremendous achievements" would not be frittered away.

"We will ensure that no impediments are put in the way of our research and development activities. We have made it clear that we cannot accept safeguards on our indigenous fast breeder program. Our scientists are confident that this technology will mature and the program will stabilize and become more robust through the creation of additional capability," he said.

According to him, this would create greater opportunities for future cooperation as well. "An important reason why the U.S. and other countries with advanced nuclear technologies are engaging with India as a valued partner is precisely because of the high respect and admiration our scientists enjoy internationally, and the range and quality of the sophisticated nuclear program they have managed to create under the most difficult odds. This gives us confidence to engage in these negotiations as an equal partner."

Pointing out that the country's civil and military nuclear program were deeply intertwined across the expanse of the nuclear cycle, the Prime Minister said the maturity of the nuclear program had made it possible to contemplate some changes.

"These are worth considering if benefits include gaining unhindered access to nuclear material, equipment, technology and fuel from international sources," he said.

Full Story: http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/28/stories/2006022806161200.htm