The Hindu : Front Page : ‘Do not discuss safeguards in Vienna’

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Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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‘Do not discuss safeguards in Vienna’

Special Correspondent

Left is neither pro-China nor pro-Pakistan, says Sitaram Yechury

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday said that it did not have any objection to the government participating in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting in Vienna next month as a member-country but made it clear that there should not be any talks on India-specific safeguards on the nuclear deal with Washington.

CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said this after a meeting with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Mr. Yechury, who was talking to journalists, said the CPI (M) would have no objection to India participating as a member-country in the IAEA’s annual general council meeting just as it participated in UNICEF and UNESCO meetings. “But do not go ahead with negotiations on India-specific safeguards.”

Mr. Yechury brushed aside a suggestion that the Left was opposing the nuclear deal to help China and Pakistan. He said: “We are neither pro-China nor pro-Pakistan. Our concerns are for our country. I am for my country’s sovereignty and I am reacting only for India and the Indian people.”

Mechanism

On the suggestion that some kind of “mechanism” could be devised to evaluate and assess the implications of the Hyde Act, he said it was for the government to decide.

Asked about the controversy over the reported remarks of Indian Ambassador in Washington Ronen Sen on the nuclear deal, he said some action should be taken against the envoy.

CPI general secretary D. Raja also took strong objection to the envoy’s remarks, and said it was unbecoming of Mr. Sen to have made such comments.

The CPI (M) will discuss the government’s response to the Left parties’ objections and reservations on the nuclear deal, their future course of action and a review of the political situation at its Central Committee meeting on August 22 and 23. The CPI will also undertake a similar exercise at its national executive meeting on August 28 and 29.

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