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13853
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 08:53
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US confident of getting IAEA,NSG nod;cites India's trackrecord
Melbourne, Jul 26 (PTI) Ahead of the crucial I.A.E.A.
meeting, the U.S. Friday said it was confident of making "a very good case" before the UN atomic watchdog and N.S.G. for the nuclear deal with India because of New Delhi's impressive non-proliferation record and would "expeditiously" push theagreement in the Congress.
"The civil nuclear deal is important for the United States, important for India, but also important in helping to advance the nonproliferation framework, the regime in which countries are operating," U.S. Secretary of State CondoleezzaRice told reporters in Perth.
"I think that's why the deal has received the support of Mohamed El Baradei (chief) of the I.A.E.A. because India has a very good record on proliferation," Rice said at a joint press meet with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith who gave the clearest indication so far that his country is ready to back the deal at the N.S.G. despite its refusal to sell Uranium to India, asserting that they were two differentissues.
In her first public comments after Manmohan Singh government won the trust vote, Rice said "we welcome the parliamentary vote." Rice said the U.S. will continue to consult with countries of the I.A.E.A. Board of Governors and with the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (N.S.G.). "But I think we can make a very good case that this is a – not just a landmark deal, buta positive landmark deal," the top U.S. official said.
Asked whether the deal will go through before the end of the Bush Administration's term in January, Rice said "it's certainly our hope that we can get through all of the processes and get this done in the Congress. And we’re going to work very expeditiously toward that goal." "On many grounds -- economic, energy supply, also nonproliferation -- we believe this is a good deal. It also, by the way, will have benefits to the United States and the American economy, and we've made that case," Rice said adding India has a tremendously growing demand for energy which if it tries to meet through carbon-based sources for energy, it isgoing to contribute dramatically to greenhouse gas emissions.
The U.S., which has been holding talks with I.A.E.A.
members on an India-specific safeguards agreements and the 45-member N.S.G. for waiver in nuclear commerce for New Delhi, appeared to have won the backing of Australia with Smith saying his country's policy on export of uranium will notprevent it from supporting the deal at the N.S.G.
"We've always made it clear that we regard the so-called 123 Agreement, the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement, as separate from that and we don't regard our policy position on export of uranium as preventing us from joining a consensus in the Nuclear Suppliers Group from supporting the arrangement," the Australian minister saidafter his talks with Rice.
Australia has, Smith said, made the point to India and also to the United States that it will give very careful consideration to the strategic importance of the agreement tothe two countries.
"We're also looking at the arrangement with a positiveand constructive frame of mind," the minister said.
Asked whether Australia will insist on India signingthe N.P.T., Smith said "No... there's two separate issues.
We've always regarded the issues as being separate." The minister, however, remained firm that it will notchange Australia's policy not to sell yellow cake to India.
The I.A.E.A. Board of Governors is meeting on August one to discuss the draft safeguards agreement. PTI RT
meeting, the U.S. Friday said it was confident of making "a very good case" before the UN atomic watchdog and N.S.G. for the nuclear deal with India because of New Delhi's impressive non-proliferation record and would "expeditiously" push theagreement in the Congress.
"The civil nuclear deal is important for the United States, important for India, but also important in helping to advance the nonproliferation framework, the regime in which countries are operating," U.S. Secretary of State CondoleezzaRice told reporters in Perth.
"I think that's why the deal has received the support of Mohamed El Baradei (chief) of the I.A.E.A. because India has a very good record on proliferation," Rice said at a joint press meet with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith who gave the clearest indication so far that his country is ready to back the deal at the N.S.G. despite its refusal to sell Uranium to India, asserting that they were two differentissues.
In her first public comments after Manmohan Singh government won the trust vote, Rice said "we welcome the parliamentary vote." Rice said the U.S. will continue to consult with countries of the I.A.E.A. Board of Governors and with the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (N.S.G.). "But I think we can make a very good case that this is a – not just a landmark deal, buta positive landmark deal," the top U.S. official said.
Asked whether the deal will go through before the end of the Bush Administration's term in January, Rice said "it's certainly our hope that we can get through all of the processes and get this done in the Congress. And we’re going to work very expeditiously toward that goal." "On many grounds -- economic, energy supply, also nonproliferation -- we believe this is a good deal. It also, by the way, will have benefits to the United States and the American economy, and we've made that case," Rice said adding India has a tremendously growing demand for energy which if it tries to meet through carbon-based sources for energy, it isgoing to contribute dramatically to greenhouse gas emissions.
The U.S., which has been holding talks with I.A.E.A.
members on an India-specific safeguards agreements and the 45-member N.S.G. for waiver in nuclear commerce for New Delhi, appeared to have won the backing of Australia with Smith saying his country's policy on export of uranium will notprevent it from supporting the deal at the N.S.G.
"We've always made it clear that we regard the so-called 123 Agreement, the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement, as separate from that and we don't regard our policy position on export of uranium as preventing us from joining a consensus in the Nuclear Suppliers Group from supporting the arrangement," the Australian minister saidafter his talks with Rice.
Australia has, Smith said, made the point to India and also to the United States that it will give very careful consideration to the strategic importance of the agreement tothe two countries.
"We're also looking at the arrangement with a positiveand constructive frame of mind," the minister said.
Asked whether Australia will insist on India signingthe N.P.T., Smith said "No... there's two separate issues.
We've always regarded the issues as being separate." The minister, however, remained firm that it will notchange Australia's policy not to sell yellow cake to India.
The I.A.E.A. Board of Governors is meeting on August one to discuss the draft safeguards agreement. PTI RT
