ID :
14644
Sat, 08/02/2008 - 09:42
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http://m.oananews.org//node/14644
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India pressing for modifications in NSG draft prepared by US
Ajay Kaul Colombo, Aug 2 (PTI) India is not satisfied with the draft prepared by the US for consideration of the NSG and is pressing for modifications in it, seeking "clean" and"unconditional" waiver from the 45-nation grouping.
Suggesting that the draft prepared by the US contained some conditionalities, officials accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here for the SAARC Summit said India could notaccept any conditions put by the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
India maintains that if any country has any non-proliferation concerns with regard to its case, theseshould not be reflected in the NSG waiver.
The officials noted that several members of the NSG had no issues with India being given the exemption and if any country has some apprehensions, those could be addressedbilaterally with them instead of NSG being involved.
"Individual countries can raise their doubts when we go for bilateral agreements with them after getting the NSG waiver and we will discuss those with them," the officialssaid.
The comments assume significance as India's case is expected to be taken up by the NSG later this month, after the IAEA Board of Governors' approves the India-specificSafeguards Agreement.
The NSG waiver by consensus is essential for India tohave cooperation with the international community.
"We want to sort out the issue (with the US) before theNSG takes up the matter," an officials said.
The officials conceded that not all members of the NSG were on board and said efforts are being made to bring them around. In this regard, some ministers and senior officials are traveling to various countries to convince them and allaytheir apprehensions, if any.
India is sure of support from many countries, particularly Russia, France and UK but some countries like Finland, Switzerland and the Netherlands, have reservations with regard to India being granted the waiver to do nuclear commerce with the international community as it is not asignatory to the NPT.
Some countries have not yet spelt out their position withregard to the issue, making India keep its fingers crossed.
The NSG works by consensus and even if one of the 45countries voices reservation, India would not get the waiver.
New Delhi contends that the Safeguards Agreement reached with IAEA covers 90 per cent of non-proliferation issues that any country could be concerned at. Efforts are being made to allay apprehensions on account of the remaining 10 per cent,the official said.
"We are telling them that they need not worry on account of India as it is committed to universal non-proliferation,"the official said.
The stand that China would take at the NSG is beingwatched closely as it has not yet spelt out its position.
The officials said China has not said it will support India's case but Chinese President Hu Jintao has conveyed toPrime Minister Singh that it will not create problems.
The officials also made it clear that India will not approach the international community for civil nuclearcommerce till the US Congress clears the 123 agreement.
"Technically, we can approach countries for cooperation in the civil nuclear field after NSG grants waiver, but we will wait till the US Congress votes on the 123 agreement asit was the US which triggered such an initiative," they said.
PTI AKK
Suggesting that the draft prepared by the US contained some conditionalities, officials accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here for the SAARC Summit said India could notaccept any conditions put by the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
India maintains that if any country has any non-proliferation concerns with regard to its case, theseshould not be reflected in the NSG waiver.
The officials noted that several members of the NSG had no issues with India being given the exemption and if any country has some apprehensions, those could be addressedbilaterally with them instead of NSG being involved.
"Individual countries can raise their doubts when we go for bilateral agreements with them after getting the NSG waiver and we will discuss those with them," the officialssaid.
The comments assume significance as India's case is expected to be taken up by the NSG later this month, after the IAEA Board of Governors' approves the India-specificSafeguards Agreement.
The NSG waiver by consensus is essential for India tohave cooperation with the international community.
"We want to sort out the issue (with the US) before theNSG takes up the matter," an officials said.
The officials conceded that not all members of the NSG were on board and said efforts are being made to bring them around. In this regard, some ministers and senior officials are traveling to various countries to convince them and allaytheir apprehensions, if any.
India is sure of support from many countries, particularly Russia, France and UK but some countries like Finland, Switzerland and the Netherlands, have reservations with regard to India being granted the waiver to do nuclear commerce with the international community as it is not asignatory to the NPT.
Some countries have not yet spelt out their position withregard to the issue, making India keep its fingers crossed.
The NSG works by consensus and even if one of the 45countries voices reservation, India would not get the waiver.
New Delhi contends that the Safeguards Agreement reached with IAEA covers 90 per cent of non-proliferation issues that any country could be concerned at. Efforts are being made to allay apprehensions on account of the remaining 10 per cent,the official said.
"We are telling them that they need not worry on account of India as it is committed to universal non-proliferation,"the official said.
The stand that China would take at the NSG is beingwatched closely as it has not yet spelt out its position.
The officials said China has not said it will support India's case but Chinese President Hu Jintao has conveyed toPrime Minister Singh that it will not create problems.
The officials also made it clear that India will not approach the international community for civil nuclearcommerce till the US Congress clears the 123 agreement.
"Technically, we can approach countries for cooperation in the civil nuclear field after NSG grants waiver, but we will wait till the US Congress votes on the 123 agreement asit was the US which triggered such an initiative," they said.
PTI AKK
