July 31, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 15, 1428

NEW DELHI, July 30: The United States is confident of getting Congressional backing for a historic but controversial nuclear pact with India, but New Delhi needs to move fast on key steps needed for the vote, Washington's envoy said on Monday.

India needs to conclude a pact with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to submit its civilian nuclear plants to inspections in the next one or two months and then get the backing of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to allow nuclear trade, US ambassador to India David Mulford said.

“We are confident we can get this through Congress but there are certain considerations that need to be borne in mind,” Mulford told reporters in India by phone from Wisconsin in the United States. “One of those is the passage of time.”

With the United States entering an election year in 2008, it was important that the vote on the complex agreement was scheduled well before time, he said.

“Our hope is that we can convince the leadership (of Congress) to move that timetable quickly so that before too many months go by, we actually get the vote,” Mulford said.—Reuters