India has agreed that Iran needs to live up to intl. obliglations: Clinton

Washington, June 14 (ANI): Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that India has made it clear that Iran, like all countries, must live up to their international obligations.

Briefing media after the third US-India Strategic Dialogue held here, Clinton said that she was happy to note that India has taken steps to diversify its sources of imported crude by reducing purchases of Iranian oil.

"We recognize the important energy needs that India has, and we're working with India, not only to ensure stable oil markets, but to do more to open up other sources of energy for India," Clinton said.

She said that both countries were working to convert common interests into common actions.

Clinton said that she was very encouraged by the deliberations that she had with the Indian delegation, particularly on issues that don't necessarily make the headlines but are so critical. As an example, she cited the first ever higher education dialogue, making it easier for U.S. and Indian researchers, students, faculty to take advantage of the educational resources and opportunities in both countries.

The announcement of the first eight grant recipients of the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative was another highlight of the deliberations, she said.

She welcomed the news of the Science and Technology Joint Commission working on improving bilateral linkages in science and engineering and data sharing.

"We have a new agreement signed in the health area to boost research on diabetes. And, for the first time, we agreed to share the U.S.-India Open Government Platform software that promotes transparency and accountability with a third country partner, Rwanda," Clinton said. (ANI)