Working to complete N-deal by Sept: Rice

As India and the US started redrafting the text of the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) waiver for their civil nuclear pact, Washington has said it is working in a focussed manner with an aim to conclude the deal by early next month.

“Our principle focus right now has been on the India civil nuclear deal, having worked through the IAEA, now working through the NSG, and still trying to get into a position to make the appropriate presidential determinations in early September,” US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice told reporters on way to Tel Aviv. She was asked whether developments in Georgia would affect the US-Russia civilian nuclear deal.

Clearance from the 45-nation is a key step in the implementation of the deal before a final vote in the US Congress, which will meet on September 8 for the last session of the Bush administration.

Rice’s remarks came as Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon met US Under Secretary of State William Burns here to discuss issues related to redrafting of the waiver text that is to be presented before the NSG at its next meeting in Vienna on September 4-5. Menon and Burns are understood to have discussed how to strike a balance in the draft so that it addresses the apprehensions of the sceptic NSG members without any “conditions” being attached to it. The foreign secretary also met US Acting National Security Adviser James Jeffrey.

The NSG, at its August 21-22 meeting, failed to arrive at a consensus on the waiver as several countries raised non-proliferation issues and sought changes in the draft.

The NSG nod is essential for India to engage in civil nuclear cooperation with the international community. The countries having reservations, particularly New Zealand, Austria and Switzerland, insisted on a language to address their non-proliferation concerns as India has a strategic nuclear programme. These countries want provisions specifying that India will be denied enrichment and reprocessing rights and the cooperation will end automatically if New Delhi conducts an atomic test.

India, on its part, has made it clear that it will not accept any condition that binds the country and has suggested that it will walk out if any “prescriptive” elements are incorporated.

Asserting that India will not allow itself to be pushed, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar yesterday said New Delhi wanted civil nuclear cooperation with the world but it “does not mean at any cost”.

After the NSG failed to arrive at a consensus at its last meeting, questions were raised as to whether the US had done its bit adequately in garnering support for the deal. In view of this, US Ambassador to India David Mulford yesterday said Washington would be working “vigorously” along with New Delhi in persuading NSG members to support the initiative.