India, Oz to address uranium sale issue after NSG, IAEA nod

Natasha Chaku

Canberra, Jun 23 (PTI) India Monday said its commitment
to non-proliferation is "second to none" and the issue of
procuring uranium from Australia will come up once it firms up
an international arrangement for nuclear commerce.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who met his
Australian counterpart Stephen Smith here, also said it was
"too early" to refer to the issue of uranium sale as political
discussions back home on implementing the Indo-US nuclear deal
were still on.

"I have not come here with one issue of getting uranium
from Australia. We are aware of the Labour party position on
uranium for quite some time. Australia's commitment to
non-proliferation is firm and we respect that," he said at a
joint press conference after the meeting.

"So far our requirement of uranium is concerned I think
it's too early to refer to that as it has been pointed out by
Minister Smith...I am really busy back home in political front
in regard to implementing 123 Agreement with the US. It is an
exercise to catch a trend which has no possibility or when it
will arrive at the platform we don't know."

"Once we have the entire process in place and uranium
trade with India is permissible as per the international
arrangement then and there the question will come," he said.

Smith said if and when the 123 Agreement reaches IAEA or
NSG, Australia will give consideration to what the arrangement
is. "We have told US government also that when such a thing
happens, Australia will then give its consideration to the
proposal."

Mukherjee also affirmed that India's commitment to
non-proliferation is "second to none" and the two countries
share a common goal of a nuclear-free world.

Mukherjee said India has sought details from Canberra on
its newly-set up nuclear disarmament commission.

Lauding Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for the
move, he said "It's on the same day 20 years ago when our
former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi unfolded his vision of a
nuclear-free world."

"We shall have to examine and look into it how it is
going to reach that desired goal," he said.

"And so far our commitment to non-proliferation is
concerned it is total... that is the correct direction and
that is the ultimate direction," he said.

Commenting on the quadrilateral security talks involving
India, Japan, Australia and the US, Mukherjee said "it was
first initiated by Japan but it did not proceed further except
some discussions. It's not correct to say that because of
Chinese concerns we are not interested in the dialogue. There
are various architectures involved which we are examining in
greater details (to see) how it proceeds."

Mukherjee said India was engaged in expanding mutual
cooperation with neighbouring nations like China and Pakistan
despite differences on various issues.

"In respect to bilateral relations with China, I can
assure you that despite the differences in respect of
boundaries we are engaged constructively.. that is the
cardinal principal of Indian foreign polices. There may be
diversions in the views but that does not affect the expanding
our mutual interest and cooperation with the neighbouring
nations including Pakistan or China."