A TEAM OF UNITED STATES OFFICIALS WERE SCHEDULED TO VISIT INDIA SUNDAY TO HOLD TALKS WITH INDIAN COUNTERPARTS ON A BILATERAL NUCLEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT, OFFICIALS SAID, ACCORDING TO DPA. THE TEAM COMPRISING MEMBERS OF THE US STATE AND ENERGY DEPARTMENTS AND THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WAS TO HOLD THREE DAYS OF TALKS BEGINNING MONDAY, A US EMBASSY OFFICIAL SAID. THE TALKS ON THE PEACEFUL NUCLEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT, OR 123 AGREEMENT, "REFLECT A DESIRE TO ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR BROAD-RANGING PEACEFUL NUCLEAR COOPERATION," THE OFFICIAL SAID. ON JULY 18, 2005, US PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH PLEDGED IN A JOINT STATEMENT WITH VISITING INDIAN PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH TO HELP INDIA DEVELOP THE PEACEFUL USE OF ATOMIC ENERGY PROVIDED IT SEPARATED ITS NUCLEAR FACILITIES INTO MILITARY AND CIVILIAN CATEGORIES AND PLACED THE LATTER UNDER INTERNATIONAL SAFEGUARDS. THE AGREEMENT WAS FINALIZED DURING BUSH'S TRIP TO INDIA IN MARCH 2006.
