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Australia plans joining consensus of NSG, IAEA

Perth: Australia could consider joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the International Atomic Energy Association in arriving at a consensus to provide India uranium for its power plants if the 123 agreement with the U.S. is ratified by Parliament.

The statement assumes significance as it comes on the heels of the Indian government conceding that uranium shortage was affecting the functioning of nuclear plants, especially the Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant.

“The Labor Party has a strong policy of not exporting uranium to any country that has not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). We have made this clear to Indian officials that we are bound by the party policy. But if the 123 agreement is passed by Indian Parliament we could consider joining a consensus of the NSG and IAEA,” Australian Foreign Minister Steve Smith told a group of Indian journalists on a trip sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Mr. Smith was responding to a query why the Australian government had changed its policy to supply uranium for Indian power plants after the Labor Party-led government under Mr. Kevin Rudd came to power in December last. “We see our party policy and India not being a signatory of NPT as two separate issues. We have made this clear to the U.S. and Indian authorities. We don’t see our party policy automatically preventing us from joining the consensus of NSG and IAEA,” Mr. Smith said.

“We will wait for the 123 agreement between India and the U.S. to emerge and then make a judgement,” he said, adding that the Prime Minister’s special envoy, Shyam Saran, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, and the former foreign secretary, L. Mansingh, have been apprised of Australia’s position.

Diplomatic sources said India had been campaigning at different forums for support in signing the 123 agreement with the United States. Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954 makes it mandatory for the U.S. to sign an agreement for cooperation as a prerequisite for nuclear deals with any nation. So far, the U.S. has entered into nearly 25 such pacts with various countries, including Japan and China.

“Both the nations have differences over the issue of supply of uranium. But it is not disturbing the fundamental relations between us,” Mr. Smith said, adding that Australia was in favour of India being given a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.

“We support India in getting a permanent seat in the U.N. Security Council. We are for reforms of various multi-lateral bodies, including the U.N. Council. The Security Council reflects the 1950s,” Mr. Smith said. “If India is made a permanent member of the Council, it would be a good development.”

On the issue of Mohammed Haneef, who was imprisoned on alleged charges of being involved in the bomb blast at the Glasgow airport (on June 30, 2007) in Scotland, and terror plots in London by the John Howard government and then released, Mr. Smith said the Australian government had ordered a probe into the handling of the issue.

“I wouldn’t want to make any comment on the issue until the enquiry gets over. But when we were in the opposition, we were concerned over the way it was handled,” he said. It was unlikely to affect relations.

Mr. Smith said Australia was interested, strategically, in India’s rise as a nation of economic importance. It saw India’s economic progress as one that could broaden the bilateral relationships further. Australia favoured a high-level relationship with India and Mr. Rudd was likely to visit New Delhi either this year-end or early next year. Before that, there could be exchange of visits between Mr. Smith and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

He also said Australia would like the commodities of the bilateral trade basket to expand. Indian exports are around $1.3 billion against Australia’s $10.3 billion. Australia’s exports to India comprise mainly gold, copper and coal which make up over 80 per cent of the basket.

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