International - India & World   

Envoy: 123 pact not in abeyance

S. Jaishankar

SINGAPORE: India’s engagement with the international community, not just the United States, to revive civilian nuclear energy cooperation is still “a work in progress.”

This was stated by India’s High Commissioner here S. Jaishankar on Tuesday. He was answering questions after addressing the Singapore Press Club in its “Eminent Speakers” series. The theme of his address was: “Why India will matter more.”

Asked whether the 123 Agreement with the U.S. was in abeyance, Dr. Jaishankar, who was closely associated with its finalisation, said: “The civilian nuclear agreement with the U.S., which will hopefully lead to agreements with other countries as well, is very much a work in progress. At this time, we actually have discussions under way with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna to work out a safeguards agreement. So, you know, it’s not static, it is not in abeyance.”

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns had said here on Monday that his country would now “need to wait for India to make a final decision on putting the safeguards agreement forward.”

Dr. Jaishankar said: “What we [Indians] do will make a difference to whether globalisation is truly globalisation or whether it is Americanised. We are a country where we have, you might say, withstood the assaults of MTV and McDonalds and have forced them to develop indigenous strategies.”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

U.S. report clears Iran on N-weapons
Stance vindicated, says Tehran
Most detenus freed: Colombo
Benazir, Nawaz join forces
Afghans’ support for Taliban grows
Research on wheat disease
Envoy: 123 pact not in abeyance
Scramble for eggs in UAE

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu