Bush calls up PM: Doha Round talks

Sandeep Dikshit

ABJUA (NIGERIA): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday told United States President George W.Bush that there were “certain difficulties” in operationalising the civilian nuclear deal with Washington, according to the Prime Minister’s Media Advisor Sanjaya Baru.

The Prime Minister came out with the “explanation” when Mr. Bush called him up.

It comes in the backdrop of Dr. Singh’s observation last week that it would be a disappointment if the deal fell through but “it was not the end of life.” He also said the government was not fixated on one issue and was committed to fulfilling its promises to the electorate on a number of issues.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had also said the Congress was taking the Left parties’ views into consideration and asserted that “‘we are not in favour of elections.”

The Left parties had strongly urged the government not to operationalise the deal by negotiating a safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

Doha Round talks

Dr. Singh also discussed with Mr. Bush issues relating to Doha Round of trade talks under the World Trade Organisation. He indicated that India was prepared to take the stalled talks forward but wanted the developed world to consider the vulnerability of the marginal farmers in mind while negotiating lower tariffs for farm produce.

“India can, by and large, live with what is on the table and has concerns only on agriculture. We will try to help in reaching a compromise,” Dr. Singh told Mr. Bush. “The Prime Minister said that he would instruct the Commerce Minister to work on these lines,” said Mr. Baru.

Dr. Singh said that India remained committed to the successful conclusion of the Doha Round at an early date. The draft texts in circulation could be the basis for discussions towards an agreed outcome in Agriculture and Industrial Tariffs. India was comfortable with most of the elements of the texts. “It is a reasonable compromise between differing positions of various countries. As is true of any trade deal, it involves give and take by all and India is ready to do its share of giving in this regard.”