ID :
16640
Fri, 08/22/2008 - 16:26
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http://m.oananews.org//node/16640
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NSG meets today to decide on nuclear waiver to India
nuclear deal faces a major test at the crucial Nuclear Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) meeting Thursday that will consider allowing nuclear commerce to India, with Austria and NewZealand still having reservations.
The Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon did some last minute lobbying last night, meeting representatives of the N.S.G. Troika-- Germany, South Africa and Hungary, key members of the 45-nation nuclear cartel ahead of the two-day plenary meeting, in whichobjections by even one country can scuttle the pact.
India got a shot in the arm Wednesday as nearly half theN.S.G. countries reportedly agreed to co-sponsor the U.S.
request to grant a waiver to India.
However, diplomatic sources said Austria and New Zealand were holding up the approval after Ireland reportedly softened its opposition, saying it was aware of the importance attached to the nuclear deal by New Delhi and of the considerablesupport that exists for its energy diversification.
On the positive side, countries like France have thrown their weight behind India, strengthening the diplomaticoverdrive launched by New Delhi and Washington.
The Germany-chaired N.S.G., the governing body for international nuclear commerce, must give unanimous approvalto the waiver before the U.S. Congress takes up the pact.
The international nuclear watchdog I.A.E.A. had on August one given a unanimous approval to the India-specificsafeguards agreement.
The deal would reverse more than three decades of US policy barring sale of nuclear fuel and technology to India, which is not a signatory to the N.P.T. PTI WAJ
The Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon did some last minute lobbying last night, meeting representatives of the N.S.G. Troika-- Germany, South Africa and Hungary, key members of the 45-nation nuclear cartel ahead of the two-day plenary meeting, in whichobjections by even one country can scuttle the pact.
India got a shot in the arm Wednesday as nearly half theN.S.G. countries reportedly agreed to co-sponsor the U.S.
request to grant a waiver to India.
However, diplomatic sources said Austria and New Zealand were holding up the approval after Ireland reportedly softened its opposition, saying it was aware of the importance attached to the nuclear deal by New Delhi and of the considerablesupport that exists for its energy diversification.
On the positive side, countries like France have thrown their weight behind India, strengthening the diplomaticoverdrive launched by New Delhi and Washington.
The Germany-chaired N.S.G., the governing body for international nuclear commerce, must give unanimous approvalto the waiver before the U.S. Congress takes up the pact.
The international nuclear watchdog I.A.E.A. had on August one given a unanimous approval to the India-specificsafeguards agreement.
The deal would reverse more than three decades of US policy barring sale of nuclear fuel and technology to India, which is not a signatory to the N.P.T. PTI WAJ
