Robert Blackwill asked the US to enter into a long-term programme of space co-operation with India and lift restrictions on the assistance given to civilian nuclear industry and hi-tech trade



Robert Blackwill asked the US to enter into a long-term programme of space co-operation with India and lift restrictions on the assistance given to civilian nuclear industry and hi-tech trade

Blackwill moots Indo-US co-operation in space tech

BANGALORE, PTI:

Former American ambassador to India Robert Blackwill on Tuesday asked the US to enter into a long-term programme of space co-operation with India and lift restrictions on the assistance given to civilian nuclear industry and hi-tech trade.

Washington should also enter into a “vigorous” long-term programme of space co-operation with India, Blackwill said while speaking on ‘The Future of US-India Relations’ at a function organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry in Bangalore.

On its part, India should now participate in the efforts to build a civil society in Iraq and join the US “much more actively, if quietly” in trying to persuade Iran to give up its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons, he said.

The US should end constraints on assistance and co-operation with India’s civil nuclear industry and high-tech trade, changing laws and policy when necessary, he said.

“We should sell India civil nuclear reactors, both to reduce its demand for Persian Gulf energy and to ease the environmental impact of India’s vibrant economic growth.”

On space co-operation, he said it was not in the interest of Washington to limit its interaction with India’s civil space efforts because of concerns that American technology and knowhow would seep into India’s military programme.

Suggesting that US sell advanced weaponry to India, Blackwill said it should become a reliable long-term supplier, including through co-production and licensed manufacture arrangements and end its previous inclination to interrupt defence supplies to India in a crisis.

“Why should the US want to check India’s missile capability in ways that could lead to China’s permanent nuclear dominance over democratic India?” he asked. He said the US should announce that in the context of the basic reform of the UN, Washington would support India as a permanent member of the Security Council. At the same time, early entry of India and China into the G-8 should be promoted, the former envoy said.

“Finally, we should initiate an intense and secret discussion with India regarding the future of Pakistan including contingency planning,” Blackwill said, while also emphasising that India should continue efforts to normalise relations with Pakistan.

When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


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Crisis Corps arrives in Thailand After the Tsunami in Southeast Asia last December, Peace Corps issued an appeal for Crisis Corps Volunteers and over 200 RPCVs responded. The first team of 8 Crisis Corps volunteers departed for Thailand on March 18 to join RPCVs who are already supporting relief efforts in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and India with other agencies and NGO's. 19 Mar 2005

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March 19, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News New Jersey RPCVs host exhibit in Maplewood on April 2 20 Mar Maryland RPCVs eat crab cakes in Annapolis 17 Mar Illinois RPCVs present "Life on the Big Red Island" 13 Mar San Diego RPCVs host reception with Gaddi Vasquez on March 6 4 Mar Western North Carolina's RPCVs sponsor Africa Night on March 6 3 Mar Connecticut RPCVs held fundraiser on March 5 3 Mar RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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March 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories RPCV points out catalytic effect of Iraq 19 Mar PCVs set up Basketball pool in Ukraine 19 Mar Sam Farr introduces bill to monitor ocean fisheries 18 Mar Bridgeland does not rule out run for Congress 18 Mar Jim Doyle promotes Institute for Discovery 18 Mar Newspaper says Bangladesh is safe for PCVs 18 Mar Joan Ruddiman revisits Peter Hessler's "River World" 17 Mar Mark Schneider says Save Haiti from more violence 17 Mar Troy Johnson joins delegation to Indonesia 17 Mar Chris Shays says baseball not exempt from the law 17 Mar "Hurlyburly" benefits gypsy women in Romania 15 Mar Chris Matthews interviews Schwarzenegger 14 Mar Fred Burke dies in NJ, trained early PCVs 13 Mar Mike Honda introduces Student Privacy Protection Act 13 Mar FT details Cheney-McPherson relationship 13 Mar Tucker McCravy reports on Tsunami Reconstruction 10 Mar Dennis Braddock retires with record of accomplishment 9 Mar

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RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter.

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Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now.

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March 1: National Day of Action Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went.

Make a call for the Peace Corps PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.

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