'Civil nuclear deal key to India-US prosperity'…

• Observing that completing the civil nuclear deal is central to the long-term prosperity of India-US relationship, the Obama Administration said ensuring a level-playing field for its companies in India's civil nuclear industry is its top priority. "Completing the US-Indian civil nuclear cooperation partnership is central to both our nations' long-term prosperity and India's future energy security," the State Department said yesterday in a written response to a question being asked by Indian journalists for the past several days. "Ensuring a level-playing field for US companies to invest in India's civil nuclear industry remains a priority for the State Department," the state ment said.

• "We are continuing to study India's regulations on civil nuclear liability," the statement said in reference to the recent gazette notification by the Indian Government in this regard. Given that it is almost over 10 days now after the Gazette notification was issued, informed sources familiar with the deliberations said that the United States is not at all happy with the notification as it feels that US companies would be at a disadvantage and its core issues have not been addressed. However, despite being repeatedly asked by journalists at the daily press briefings of the State Department, its officials are reluctant to publicly air their differences with India on this particular issue.

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