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Skriven 2006-12-18 23:31:20 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0612181) for Mon, 2006 Dec 18
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President Signs U.S.-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 18, 2006

President Signs U.S.-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act
East Room

President's Remarks view

˙˙˙˙˙ Fact Sheet: The United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy
Cooperation Act ˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Energy

10:46 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming. Welcome to the White House. Today, I have
the honor of signing a bill that will strengthen the partnership between
the world's two largest democracies. The relationship between the United
States and India has never been more vital -- and this bill will help us
meet the energy and security challenges of the 21st century. I want to
thank the Congress for delivering this historic bill to my desk.
(Applause.) I'm look forward to signing it. (Laughter.)

The "Henry Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act"
passed with strong bipartisan support. It is a fitting tribute to its
sponsor and the man whose name it carries. During his 32 years in Congress,
Chairman Hyde earned the respect of his colleagues on both sides of the
aisle. I appreciate his effective and principled leadership. I wish him all
the best in his retirement.

I'm proud to be joined here by Secretary of State Condi Rice. This bill
would not have happened without her leadership. (Applause.) I thank very
much the members of the Senate and the House who have joined us up here,
people from both parties who worked hard to get this bill passed: Senator
Bill Frist, and Senator Dick Lugar, and Senator George Allen; Congressman
Gary Ackerman, Frank Pallone, Joe Crowley, Thad McCotter. Thank you all for
joining us. Thanks for your good work. (Applause.)

I appreciate our Ambassador, David Mulford, and wife Jeannie, for joining
us. Thanks for your good work, Ambassador. I'm also proud to be joined by
Ambassador Jassal. I want to thank you for coming, Ambassador. I thank the
Indian American community leaders who are here today.

The Indian American community was vital to explaining this strategic bill
to our fellow citizens. I appreciate so very much your carrying the message
not only here at home, but in India. And I want you to know that your voice
was very effective, and I welcome it. (Applause.)

The United States and India are natural partners. The rivalries that once
kept our nations apart are no more -- and today, America and India are
united by deeply held values. India is a democracy that protects rule of
law and is accountable to its people. India is an open society that demands
freedom of speech and freedom of religion. India is an important ally in
the war against extremists and radicals. Like America, India has suffered
from terrorist attacks on her own soil. And like America, India is
committed to fighting the extremists, defeating their hateful ideology, and
advancing the cause of human liberty around the world.

The United States and India are also working together to expand economic
opportunities in both our countries. India's economy has more than doubled
in size since 1991 -- and it is one of the fastest-growing markets for
American exports. If you visit India today, you are going to see a lot of
people using goods and services made by American companies. And that helps
raise the standard of living not only in India, but here at home. Trade is
good for both countries, and we're going to continue to work with India to
promote free and fair trade.

In our meetings in Washington and in New Delhi, Prime Minister Singh, for
whom I have a lot of respect, we discussed the importance of working
together to meet the energy needs of our growing economies. We recognize
that energy, clean energy is going to be important to the advancement of
our economies. And on my visit to India earlier this year, we concluded an
historic agreement that will allow us to share civilian nuclear technology
and bring India's civilian nuclear program under the safeguards of the
IAEA. This cooperation will help the people of India produce more of their
energy from clean, safe nuclear power, and that, in turn, will help their
economy grow. And it's in our interest that the Indian economy continue to
grow. It helps make America more secure.

As part of the agreement, the United States and India have committed to
take a series of steps to make nuclear cooperation a reality, and we're
going to fulfill these commitments. The bill I sign today is one of the
most important steps, and it's going to help clear the way for us to move
forward with this process.

The bill is going to help us achieve four key goals.

First, the bill will help us strengthen cooperation between India and
United States on one of the most important challenges in the 21st century,
and that is energy. India is now the world's fifth largest consumer of
energy -- and its demand for electricity is expected to double by 2015. The
United States has a clear interest in helping India meet this demand with
nuclear energy. By helping India expand its use of safe nuclear energy,
this bill lays the foundation for a new strategic partnership between our
two nations that will help ease India's demands for fossil fuels and ease
pressure on global markets.

Second, the bill will help promote economic growth. This bill helps open a
new important market for American businesses by paving the way for
investment in India's civilian nuclear industry for the first time ever.
This new trade will help American companies gain new customers abroad, and
create new jobs here at home.

Third, the bill will help make it possible for India to reduce emissions --
and improve its environment. Today, India produces nearly 70 percent of its
electricity from coal. Burning coal produces air pollution and greenhouse
gases -- and as India's economy has grown, emission levels have risen, as
well. We must break the cycle, and with nuclear power, we can. We can help
India do so, and we can do so here at home by the use of nuclear power.

Nuclear power is the one source of energy that can generate massive amounts
of electricity without producing any air pollution or greenhouse gases. And
by sharing advanced civilian nuclear technology, we will help our friend,
India, meet its growing demand for energy and lower emissions at the same
time.

Finally, the bill will help keep America safe by paving the way for India
to join the global effort to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
(Applause.) India has conducted its civilian nuclear energy program in a
safe and responsible way for decades. Now, in return for access to American
technology, India has agreed to open its civilian nuclear power program to
international inspection. This is an important achievement for the whole
world. After 30 years outside the system, India will now operate its
civilian nuclear energy program under internationally accepted guidelines
-- and the world is going to be safer as a result.

The bill I'm about to sign is evidence of the growing bonds of trust
between our two countries. Congress acted quickly and passed it with
overwhelming bipartisan support. You know why? Because the American people
have come to see India as a friend. (Applause.) And I view the Prime
Minister as a trustworthy man and a friend. I appreciate Prime Minister
Singh's leadership on this very important issue. I look forward to
continuing to work with him to make civil nuclear cooperation a reality.

And now it is my honor to sign the Henry J. Hyde United States-India
Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006. (Applause.)

(The Act is signed.) (Applause.)

END 10:56 A.M. EST

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