(10 Nov 2006) SHOTLIST
1. Richard Boucher, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, walking to podium
2. Cutaway cameramen
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard A Boucher, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs:
"The (US) President George W. Bush has made very clear, this is a priority for him. The leadership has made it very clear, it is a priority for them - Democrats as well as Republicans. Remember the votes that we have seen in our legislature, in our House and then in the Senate committee have been extremely strong. There has been a very solid support for specific legislation. There is also enormous support for the US-India relationship. It goes across both parties, and so I expect that support will continue. That support they will manifest in their... in the terms of their scheduling and their votes."
4. Journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Boucher, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs:
"On the situation in Sri Lanka I think we have growing concern and indeed that was one of the topics of my discussion today with the Indian government. I think there was news this morning on the killing of one of the Tamil politicians, and that's another horrible act, it's really deplorable. We strongly condemn the attack on the displaced persons, the artillery fire that killed them. It is very very important for both sides to respect the ceasefire. It's very important for both sides to understand they are not gaining anything militarily. They are losing ground in terms of their political standing and both sides need to understand that the only way to achieve what they want is through negotiation."
6. Photographer
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard A Boucher, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs:
"Many of the links that have been talked about, that have been seen do go back to groups that have origins and ties into Pakistan. But some of these groups, all these groups really, have been banned and outlawed in Pakistan as well. So we all need to work more together and we all need to work more against terrorism and to try and make our actions effective so that people in India don't suffer from these blasts, so that Americans in these regions and elsewhere don't suffer from the attacks of the Taliban or other extremist groups. To make sure this region is not a source of terrorism and that's something I think we all need to be committed to. So we welcome the direct discussions between India and Pakistan on a whole host of issues."
8. Journalists
9. Boucher walking back to his car
10. Boucher's car leaving
STORYLINE
US State Department's top South Asia official said on Friday that a US plan to share civilian nuclear technology with India was on track and could receive final approval by the end of the year.
Richard Boucher, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia said there was continued support to the proposal by US President George W. Bush.
According to Boucher, the deal was unlikely to be undermined by the US Democrats gaining control of Congress after Tuesday's elections, as it has strong supporters in both US political parties and was overwhelmingly endorsed by the House of Representatives in July.
"There has been a very solid support for specific legislation," Boucher told reporters in New Delhi on Friday. "There is also enormous support for the US-India relationship. It goes across both parties and so I expect that support will continue," he added.
The Senate, however, must act before a final bill can be passed and sent to Bush to be ratified.
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