Australia rules out export of uranium to India

Natasha Chaku
Canberra, June 24 (PTI) - Australia Monday ruled out export
of uranium to India, which has been making a longstanding
demand for supply of this crucial energy source, even as the
two countries signed treaties on extradition and mutual
assistance in criminal matters.

"We just signed a couple of treaties. The Australian
Labour Party has a longstanding position which is well known.
We don't export uranium to a country which is not not a
signatory to the nuclear non-profliferation treaty (N.P.T.),"
Australian Foreign Smith told a press conference with visiting
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee by his side after a
meeting between them.

The previous Conservative party government had in
principle accepted to export Uranium but the Labour government
has some strong views on the issue.

Mukherjee himself sought to down play the issue saying
India was aware of the Labour government's position and he has
not not come to change Canberra's view on that.

He said India's 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.

Mukherjee also said it was "too early" to refer to the
issue of uranium sale as political discussions back home on
implementing the Indo-U.S. 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
International Atomic Energy Agency or Nuclear Suppliers Group,
Australia will give consideration to what its attitude to
that agreement is. "We will bear in mind the view, arguements
and the importance of the issue to India when we come to that
consideration."

"We have told U.S. government also that when such a thing
happens, Australia will then give its consideration to the
proposal," Smith said.

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. PTI