'Conflicts with Left on N-deal will be settled'

Ahead of the UPA-Left coordination committee meeting on Indo-US nuclear deal, government on Saturday expressed hope that the differences with the supporting allies on the issue will be resolved.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here that he was engaged in talks with the Left on the deal to sort out the matter.

"I am hopeful of sorting out the issue (with the Left)," Mukherjee, who is a member of the UPA-Left coordination committee on the nuclear deal, said.

The UPA-Left committee meeting will take place on Monday during which the government will present the draft safeguards agreement finalised with the IAEA for endorsement of the panel.

On his forthcoming visit to Washington, Mukherjee said nuclear deal is not the only issue to be discussed with USA.

"There are other bilateral issues, including trade and commerce and investment etc which can be discussed between the two countries," added the minister who will travel to Washington on March 23.

Mukherjee said the US was the single largest trading partner with India and the two nations share common perceptions on many issues.

The Minister declined to make any comment on the Nandigram violence, saying it was an "internal matter" of the state.