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New Indo-US science forum launched

The United States has indicated that it favoured removal of barriers to free movement of scientists from India and intellectual property protection, but remained non-committal on technology sanctions imposed by it on India following the Pokhran nuclear tests.

There should be no barriers to free movement of people, intellectual property and its protection, US Ambassador Richard Celeste told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday evening while formally launching the Indo-US Science Forum. During US President Bill Clinton's visit to India in March the two countries had agreed to launch the forum.

Celeste, however, declined to comment on the post-Pokhran technology sanctions, merely quipping, "Let's keep this evening sanctions-free".

Science and Technology Minister Murli Manohar Joshi launched the forum at a function where Celeste also handed over a cheque for Rs 3200 million on behalf of his country. Science Secretary Prof V S Ramamurthy presented a cheque for Rs five million as the first instalment of India's contribution.

Both sides hailed the event as a historic step. While Celeste said the forum would provide a "dramatic opportunity to pursue science with the best Indian and best American scientists," Ramamurthy said setting up the forum by the two largest democracies in the world was a "landmark event in the history of Indo-US science collaboration".

The forum would initially discuss projects in areas of biotechnology, information technology, material sciences, energy efficiency and medical sciences.

PTI

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