Washington:
Implementation of the civil nuclear deal is "proceeding smoothly and satisfactorily" and the civil nuclear liability bill is likely to be introduced in the Parliament after the recess, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said on Tuesday.
"As far as introduction of the civil nuclear liability bill in the Parliament is concerned, it is ready for introduction, and in all likelihood it would be introduced after the recess," Rao said in response to a question at the Woodrow Wilson Centre, a Washington-based think-tank.
Terming conclusion of the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement in 2008 as "a major definitive milestone in Indo-US relationship", she said "we are in the process of operationalising the Agreement through close coordination between our two Governments."
Referring to Joint Statement issued during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the US in November last, Rao said, "the two leaders reiterated their intention to realise the full potential of the India-US Agreement for Cooperation concerning the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy through the implementation of its provisions."
"They agreed to expedite US firms' participation in the implementation of this agreement," she said.