Talks on spent nuclear fuel reprocessing to begin next week

In a step forward in the implementation of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, officials from both the countries will be meeting in Vienna next week to discuss the "arrangements and procedures" under which US spent nuclear fuel will be reprocessed in India.

The negotiation, which under the 123 Agreement has to be completed within a year of the start, is slated to be launched in Vienna next week, said sources.

The US delegation would be led by Richard Stratford, director of the Office of Nuclear Energy Affairs in the State Department and Washington's point man for nuclear negotiations with India.

Vienna had been chosen as a venue instead of India and the United States because of the scheduling problem, officials said, adding that top negotiators from the two countries were available at this time to attend a conference in the Austrian capital.