Kurama
BANNED
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2013
- Messages
- 709
- Reaction score
- -8
- Country
- Location
Washington: US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has cancelled a crucial trip to India, scheduled for this month, amid strained relations between the two countries over the arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade on alleged visa fraud charges in New York last month.
At the India-US Energy Dialogue, to be led by Mr Moniz, the two countries were expected to make significant progress in energy co-operation. State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki has now said that the dialogue will now be rescheduled and will take place at a mutually convenient date later.
"We place great emphasis, as you know, on the US-India energy partnership. It was an issue when the Secretary (of State, John Kerry) was there, and he even gave a speech talking about these issues - a key element of our strategic partnership," Ms Psaki said.
"In view of these important matters and in order to find the time to allow both sides to deliver on the important issues that we need to from both sides, we're looking for a mutually convenient time in the near future that will permit both sides to do that," she added.
"We remain committed to holding this dialogue and we'll look for a time to hold it," she said, adding that the energy dialogue would be re-scheduled soon.
The Energy Secretary's visit to India for the dialogue was considered important for both the countries. At a summit in September last year, US president Barack Obama and Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh had identified co-operation in the energy sector as an important pillar of India-US strategic partnership. In fact, clean energy was the focus of Secretary of State John Kerry's India visit last summer. During their meeting at the White House on September 27, President Obama and Dr Singh had discussed ways to strengthen bilateral efforts to promote energy efficiency, clean energy, and address climate change.
The US-India Energy Dialogue was launched on May 31, 2005 to promote increased trade and investment in the energy sector. Five working groups had been set up under the initiative in areas of oil and gas, coal, power and energy efficiency, new technologies and renewable energy and civil nuclear co-operation. Another working group on 'sustainable development' was added recently. The last India-US Energy Dialogue took place in September 2012.
Preparations were on to make significant progress on US giving approval for LNG export to India during this visit, sources said. India has been pushing the US to expedite this process to meet its galloping energy needs. The now postponed India US Energy Dialogue was also expected to implement the decisions taken by President Obama and Dr Singh with regard to clean energy.
Amid row over Devyani Khobragade case, US Energy Secretary cancels India trip | NDTV.com
