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Efforts are on for IAEA's green signal

New Delhi, Fri, 25 Jul 2008 NI Wire

Amid jubilation for establishing its supremacy through the vote of confidence, the Congress-led UPA government has raised its effort for the operationalisation of the nuclear deal and hoped for green signal to be given by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on August 1.


But, before that July 25 is another crucial day for India when it will brief 144 members representing 35-member nations of IAEA in Vienna on the technical aspects of the draft safeguards text. Work is not so easy as Pakistan, Ireland, China and other Scandinavian countries would try every bit to put obstruction in the path of India.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi's statement issued on Thursday was sufficient to signal what approach it would take on August 1 during IAEA's Board of Governors (BoG) meeting. He said, “We feel that an agreement should not be discriminatory in nature. Pakistan has energy requirements and Pakistan should have the same.”

For the last couple of weeks, the president of the IAEA's board, Milenko E. Skoknic, the Chilean ambassador has been holding bilateral talks with all the member nations to take their views to the Indian context.

The US ambassador David Mulford has stated Washington is looking to wrap up entire NSG process by September. The nuclear deal will be then presented to the US Congress, which is already facing deadline owing to the presidential elections due in November.

Meanwhile, a statement issued from the Government's office has said that the next step on the deal will be taken after IAEA's green signal to the safeguards agreement.

To a query asking government’s step for getting support of the NSG on nuclear deal, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday, “The next step will be taken after the IAEA gives its approval to the safeguards agreement.”

It is to be noted here that soon after winning the confidence motion in the Lok Sabha government had sent its emissaries around the world to convince Nuclear Suppliers' Group- member nations. A number of ministers comprising Kapil Sibbal, Prithviraj Chauhan and Anand Sharma have been holding bilateral discussions with the deal-concerned nations.

Apart from that the national security advisor M K Narayanan, foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, and other ministers of the foreign department have been included in the group of representatives.

Also, diplomats to different countries have been instructed by the government to convince the concerned nations of safeguards agreement. IAEA's nod to safeguards agreement is essential to take the process ahead in the American Congress.

From India's point of view, it would not like to go for voting in the IAEA and has raised its diplomatic effort to convince IAEA's Board of Governors not to force for voting on safeguards agreement.

IAEA rarely go for voting. Last time it went for voting two years ago on the issue of Iran's nuclear programme called by NSG nations. India would like the decision on the safeguards agreement to be taken by the common consent rather than voting.

Sources say that safeguards agreement would get the approval of IAEA, but it is difficult to be passed with thumping majority. Pakistan and Ireland are the two chief nations which would put every effort so that India could not get the IAEA's green signal on safeguards agreement.

Pakistan is annoyed as it was not allowed to get the same agreement despite its ardent desire and Ireland thinks that if India involves in nuclear trade with NSG nations without signing Non Proliferation Treaty then the purpose of the NPT will have no significance.


Read More: Anand

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