Japan says it backs nuke deal due to international consensus

Tokyo, Sep 8 (PTI) The Japanese government today defended
its clearance of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal saying it had
backed the deal to join an international consensus taking a
"comprehensive perspective".

"Japan has decided to join the consensus from a
comprehensive viewpoint," Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka
Machimura told newsmen today saying nuclear power would help
India fight global warming.

"It would be a tool to prevent the emission of a huge
volume of green house gas as this emerging country of a
billion people continues its rapid growth," the Japanese top
official said.

Machimura was quoted by the Kyodo news agency as saying
that the safeguards agreement India has reached with the
International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) would ensure
inspection of India's nuclear facilities and increase
transparency of the country's nuclear activities.

The top Japanese official said despite his country's
backing of the civil nuclear deal at the key N.S.G. meet in
Vienna, Tokyo still had concerns.

"We would continue to assert that India should join the
comprehensive test ban treaty," Machimura said.