The Hindu : Front Page : Open to talks with India: ElBaradei

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007
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Open to talks with India: ElBaradei

Special Correspondent

“A valuable partner in peaceful uses of nuclear energy ”

— Photo: PTI

WALK THE TALK: IAEA Director-General Mohammed ElBaradei (left) with Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar at the Gateway of India in Mumbai on Tuesday.

MUMBAI: International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Mohammed ElBaradei on Tuesday said he was open to talks with India whenever it approached the IAEA on the safeguards agreement, which is the first step to operationalise the India-United States nuclear deal. The IAEA would wait for a formal request.

Whenever India was ready, it could approach the IAEA. “We have always had a fruitful dialogue with the government of India,” he said in response to questions on his impending discussions.

Mr. ElBaradei, who is on a three-day trip to India, was speaking to the press at the inauguration of an indigenously developed, computerised telecobalt radiotherapy unit, Bhabhatron II, at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai.

Speaking on the occasion, he described India as a model for all developing countries with its investments in science, technology and research.

He spoke of India as a valuable partner in the peaceful use of atomic energy.

“India is a valuable partner in both mandates of the IAEA, the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy and arms control.”

Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar handed over a model of Bhabhatron II to Mr. ElBaradei at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC).

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the ACTREC, a research wing of the Tata Memorial hospital in Mumbai have designed the Rs. 2-crore radiotherapy unit.

The BARC is donating it to the IAEA as part of its Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy, which is part of a tripartite agreement signed in Vienna with the IAEA.

The machine will be sent to the Can Tho general hospital in Vietnam.

Bhabhatron II is aimed at reducing the cost of cancer treatment and producing the machine in India will cost much less. India has about 300-odd machines compared to the demand for at least 1,000. It is the advanced version of Bhabhatron I, which was developed in March 2005.

Dr. Kakodkar spoke of India’s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Mr. ElBaradei also visited the electron beam facility of the Department of Atomic Energy at Vashi in Navi Mumbai. Earlier, Dr. Kakodkar accompanied him to the BARC.

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