Washington: As the Indo-US nuclear deal comes up in the Senate, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran has held wide-ranging discussions on all aspects of bilateral relations, including the crucial civilian agreement, with top officials of Bush administration and leading members of Congress.
Saran called on the Chairman of the House International Relations Henry Hyde and is said to have had a joint meeting with the Republican Majority Leader William First and the Minority Leader Harry Reid.
The meetings assume significance as the Senate is expected to take up the civilian nuclear legislation prior to its expected adjournment on September 29.
Saran, who came to Washington for a few hours on Thursday, also held a meeting with the Ranking Member of the House International Relations Committee Tom Lantos.
The Foreign Secretary, prior to his departure back to New York, also met the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph and Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economic Relations David McCormick.
The decks are supposed to have been cleared in terms of coming to an agreement with Conservative lawmakers who were adamantly opposed to Title Two of the Senate bill that dealt with an additional protocol between the US and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
But Congressional sources maintain that efforts are now under way to sort out other aspects of the legislation which mainly include the length of debate and the amendments that could be offered on the floor of the Senate.
When an agreement is reached the Senate Majority Leader will be making a formal announcement on tabling the legislation on the floor of the House.
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