NEW CONNECTION: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (centre) and South African President Thabo Mbeki about to begin their summit at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia on Wednesday. — Photo: AFP

Brasilia: In a significant development, India has obtained the support of the three-nation India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) grouping for its efforts to open up avenues for international civilian nuclear cooperation beginning with the nuclear deal with the United States.

This was indicated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his opening address to the plenary session of the first IBSA summit on Wednesday. "I appreciate the fact that IBSA has lent its support for forward looking approaches to enhance international civilian nuclear cooperation," he said.

While the Prime Minister did not elaborate on the type of support — whether it would include nuclear technology or nuclear fuel or political support — he did raise the issue in his bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday, according to official sources. Mr. Lula did indicate that Brazil would be willing to cooperate on fuel supplies as well as technology. Any specific deal is some way off, though, and is in any case dependent on the outcome of the nuclear deal with the United States and the easing of restrictions by the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

The nuclear issue received just a passing reference in Dr. Singh's address, which dwelt at length on the philosophy behind the three-nation IBSA grouping. Describing the summit as "historic" and the idea of IBSA itself as "without precedent," he pointed out that despite the great distances that separated the countries, there was much in common. Each of the countries was a pluralistic, multi-cultural society and the largest democracy on its continent. They were committed to economic growth with social equity and inclusion. And they accepted the responsibilities that came with the role expected of them.

The summit declaration reflected the common vision on a wide range of political, economic, regional and global issues and set "a bold and comprehensive agenda of cooperation." If implemented earnestly, the voice of the group would be heard in international affairs.

Quite apart from strong business and technological linkages among the three countries, IBSA brought utility to the world community as well. This was evident in the leadership the three had provided to the G-20 in the World Trade Organisation negotiations on the Doha round of trade talks. "While success still eludes the Doha round, we can derive satisfaction from the role that we have played in facilitating coalition building on difficult trade issues," he said.

Pioneering initiative

Likewise, the IBSA facility for alleviation of poverty and hunger was a pioneering initiative for South-South cooperation. It represented the three countries coming together to establish replicable and scalable projects in other developing countries.

The Prime Minister called for expanding the idea of IBSA from being a project of three governments to one involving the peoples of the three countries more intensively through greater contact, cultural and educational exchanges, besides trade and tourism. To improve connectivity, they had signed a memorandum of understanding on air services and an agreement on maritime transportation and they needed to be made operational.

"I would like to say for all the three of our countries that there is value in investing in IBSA and this is a vision we must pledge together to realise," he told the summit plenary session.

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