Washington, Thursday 09 Oct 2008: US President George W Bush on Wednesday signed a bill to ratify the India-US civil nuclear deal. The signing statement said that India can count on reliable supply of nuclear fuel from the US and that the law was not different from the 123 Agreement. Indian and US will now sign the agreement on Friday.

Following the signature, India and the US will on Thursday exchange diplomatic notes pursuant to Article 16(1) of the 123 Agreement, thereby bringing the agreement into force - only then the deal envisioned by Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 18, 2005 would be finally done.

India and US are the natural partners, Bush said as he signed the deal at a ceremony. “It is a big deal. Its in the interest of both US and India,” he added.

Lawmakers, prominent members of the Indian American community, leading businessmen of the two countries besides officials and diplomats, who all played a major role in pushing the deal, were there for the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

“This agreement sends a signal to the world: nations that follow the path to democracy and responsible behavior will find a friend in the United States of America,” Bush said before he signed the agreement into law.

The resolution of approval of the bill H R 7081, United States India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act, passed the House of Representatives 298-117 and the Senate 86-13 with some riders, which these lawmakers contend allowed them to permit nuclear sales to India.