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| NSG meet: 3 nations raise questions |
| Press Trust Of India / Vienna Aug 22, 2008, 01:03 IST |
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The Nuclear Suppliers Group met here today to consider whether India should be allowed to resume civil nuclear trade with the world, a decision that appears to be a “tough” call as three nations raised questions over the initiative even as New Delhi sought to allay their fears.
After the first day’s intense deliberations at the NSG meeting and a special briefing by India for the member countries, New Delhi said it was a “tough game” but expressed optimism about getting the exemption.
The grouping, which controls international nuclear trade, will meet again tomorrow for discussions on the crucial issue amid indications that there could be no decision during the two day long deliberations and another meeting may be called soon after to take the final view.
Assembling amid continued reservations of at least three members, the NSG considered a draft of the waiver moved by the US, which is to be adopted by the grouping by consensus.
After the first session of the meet, India held a special briefing for all the NSG countries, conveying its commitments towards non-proliferation and seeking to allay fears that some members have.
Representatives of Austria, New Zealand and Switzerland questioned why India should be granted the waiver as they raised issues related to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and testing, sources said.
Responding to the questions, the Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon sought to allay the apprehensions, citing New Delhi’s “impeccable” track record on the non-proliferation front despite not being a signatory to the NPT.
Insisting that the initiative would not weaken the non-proliferation system as feared by some, the Indian officials were believed to have pointed out to the NSG members that New Delhi had in place strict export control regime besides other measures to guard against transfer of dual-use technology or nuclear fuel to ineligible entities.
After the collective briefing, Menon and prime minister’s special envoy Shyam Saran met representatives of the NSG countries separately in groups.
Participants later said the briefing, held in a “positive” atmosphere, was “good and useful”.
“Some issues were raised which were useful and constructive,” a participant said without identifying which country he was representing.
US Ambassador to India David Mulford seemed to suggest that NSG would certainly grant the waiver but it may not come at the current deliberations.
“This won't be easy, we need to be patient,” he said, adding, “It is quite early to say how the NSG talks will go.”
The special briefing was held as India, which is not a member of the NSG, wanted to put forth its case directly before the members of the grouping.
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