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Australia assures cooperation in civil nuclear energy sector

— Photo: PTI

Exchanging pleasantries: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee with his Australian counterpart, Alexander Downer, on the sidelines of the ASEAN 40 Ministerial Meeting and 14th Regional Forum in Manila on Tuesday.

MANILA: Australia on Tuesday “assured” India of “cooperation” in the civil nuclear energy sector.

This was indicated by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee after his talks with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on the sidelines of a series of meetings being organised here by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Mr. Downer, making an independent statement, hailed the successful completion of negotiations between India and the United States as a “very positive and historic development … which is very much in Australia’s interest.” He emphasised that “the relationship between Australia and India has never been stronger.” As economic partners, and “on security and strategic issues, Australia and India are collaborating at a level not seen before.”

Mr. Mukherjee, briefing Indian journalists, said Mr. Downer disclosed that “the Australian Cabinet will soon be considering the issue of sale of uranium to India.” Australia had expressed its willingness to “cooperate” with India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) so that its guidelines could be amended for the supply of know-how and equipment to India in the civil atomic energy sector.

However, “nothing can be done without the International Atomic Energy Agency’s India-specific arrangement,” which was one of two issues “required to be done,” Mr. Mukherjee said.

Noting that “Australia is becoming an important source for resources for the rapidly growing Indian economy,” he said Canberra’s uranium supplies could follow the finalisation of the IAEA’s India-specific arrangement.”

Asked whether Canberra had indicated that its proposed uranium supplies would be bench-marked against Australia’s recent accord with China for the supply of the same resources, Mr. Mukherjee said, “Don’t try to compare [India] with China . Because, China is a nuclear-weapon state, which India is not [under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty].”

Mr. Downer said the U.S.-India civil nuclear initiative “will have important non-proliferation and environmental benefits.” Australia, he said, “shares with the IAEA the goal of engaging with India as a constructive and responsible partner in preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”

“It is in the international community’s interest” that India, with “advanced nuclear technology,” had now agreed to sustain its own nuclear weapon-testing moratorium.

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