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U.S. hints at changes in NSG waiver draft

Richard Boucher

Mumbai: The U.S. on Friday indicated that the draft being considered by the Nuclear Suppliers Group to allow India to conduct nuclear trade may undergo some changes which would be discussed between the two countries to see what can be “accommodated.”

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher, however, said nothing would be allowed to impede the India-U.S. nuclear deal.

“I don’t want to lie to you...I can’t really lie. There might be some changes that we could accept. But we are pushing for a clean text”, Mr. Boucher told reporters here as the 45-nation grouping held deliberations in Vienna on whether India should be given the exemption to conduct civilian nuclear trade.

“The U.S. and India will have to sit together and see what we can accommodate and what we can’t. We will have to talk to the other governments involved,” he said. “If you are making an exception... there has to be a certain logic to it.”

He did not specify as to what kind of changes would be made in the draft, which was moved by the U.S. at the NSG meet on Thursday.

The draft has been finalised after tough negotiations between Washington and New Delhi, which has been keen on ensuring that no conditions are attached to the waiver.

“Most of the countries I talked to and most of the countries we are hearing from Vienna are positive. They understand the sort of importance in having cooperation with India,” he said.

He contended that the deal is good for India not just in terms of economic growth and energy but also in terms of its relations with the international community. — PTI

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