The Hindu : Front Page : Important for India to negotiate with IAEA: U.S.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Important for India to negotiate with IAEA: U.S.

Vienna: The United States said on Monday that it was “important” for India to negotiate a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to operationalise the nuclear deal, even as Atomic Energy Commission chief Anil Kakodkar remained tightlipped on whether he would hold talks with the IAEA.

“I will not speak anything on it now,” Dr. Kakodkar, who arrived here to attend the IAEA’s annual meeting, told PTI at the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog’s headquarters here.

He was asked whether he would hold talks with the IAEA on the country-specific safeguards agreement or he had received any directive from the government on proceeding with the discussions.

Finalising a India-specific safeguards agreement is one of the key steps for operationalising the deal that has been mired in political controversy with the Left parties threatening to withdraw support to the Manmohan Singh government if it goes ahead with the negotiations with the IAEA.

Nudging India to fulfil its obligations under the nuclear cooperation agreement, U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said here: “It is important that both India and the U.S. complete these processes by working with International Atomic Energy Agency and Nuclear Suppliers’ Group.”

He was answering a query whether India can become a party to the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) when it develops a dedicated facility for reprocessing under the deal.

Asked whether the proposed facility has been pledged for the GNEP, Mr. Bodman said, “We are looking forward to working with India.”

“India has lot of contribution in the development of technologies required under the GNEP and if they desire to join, we appreciate and will be successful in accommodating India,” he told reporters.

Sixteen countries signed the statement of principles of the GNEP following a second Ministerial meeting, chaired by Mr. Bodman.

India did not participate in the GNEP meet in which 38 countries were represented.

Asked whether India would become part of the GNEP, Dr. Kakodkar, said that “first we have to complete the bilateral process on civilian nuclear cooperation.”

On whether the dedicated facility for reprocessing fuel would be used by other countries, Dr. Kakodkar said “it will be a purely national facility under IAEA safeguards for the imported fuel.” — PTI