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Australia: we see beyond N-issue

SINGAPORE: Australia is “determined” to elevate its ties with India to “a new economic and strategic level” by shaping “practical initiatives” and by going “far beyond” the sensitive issue of Canberra’s uranium export norms.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Friday praised India’s “strong record on non-proliferation.” However, he gave no indication of exempting India from “the Australian policy not to supply uranium to non-Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty countries.”

The Kevin Rudd government’s policy “is long standing and well known”. “The important point, however, is that Australia’s relationship with India goes far beyond this single issue.”

Speaking at the University of Western Australia, Perth, Mr. Smith said he would “soon host” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee for a scheduled bilateral dialogue and seek to “advance practical initiatives” for better ties between the two countries.

Mr. Smith said he would discuss Australia’s proposal of forming “a new Asia-Pacific Community” for “greater strategic stability in our rapidly-developing part of the world.”

India should, in this context, become a member of the existing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum when its “membership moratorium ends in 2010.”

Hailing India as a “positive force in Asia’s future,” he said Canberra “strongly believes” that New Delhi “should have a permanent seat on a reformed United Nations Security Council.”

In an elaborate comment on the nuclear issue, as reflected in the text of his speech, Mr. Smith said: “Australia and India are both committed to addressing the critical challenge of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.”

“India shares our ultimate objective of nuclear disarmament. … Indian participation in the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament would of course be of great assistance. Australia is developing a mature and broad-ranging relationship with India, one that can and does accommodate differences of opinion on particular issues, and one that still moves forward constructively and positively,” he added.

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