With negotiations on bilateral agreement to operationalise the Indo-US civil nuclear deal gaining momentum, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that "one or two issues" needed to be resolved and hoped that it would be done soon.
"There are one or two issues to be resolved," he said, referring to the proposed 123 Agreement (An agreement for cooperation as a prerequisite for nuclear deals between the US and any other nation).
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a book release function, he expressed confidence that the agreement will be finalised soon.
He said that he would take Parliament into confidence when the deal is finalised.
"I have been apprising Parliament at every step on the deal. It has never happened earlier," he said, pointing out that he had made statements in the House after the July 18, 2005, understanding on the deal, as also before and after the visit of US President George W Bush.
Singh's comments came amidst optimism expressed by US on finalisation of the deal this year.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said with will and determination, the two countries will be able to finalise it by the end of the year.
