In spite of the apprehensions lingering over the outcome of the key Vienna meet, till the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group countries put their signature on the draft, granting specific waiver to India which would mean end of decades old ban as well as inclusion of India in global nuclear commerce, sources say the deal may be clinched by Friday.
Expectations over the outcome of the Vienna meet in favour of India started building up with the end of the first day talk which brought melting down of severe objections by the naysayers of the NSG countries, whose needle were struck at “nuclear testing” as India stands outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Some of the NSG's sceptical members particularly New Zealand, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Norway have been critical of the present form of the draft even after its amendment. They were vocal in its demand asking for semantic changes in the draft and quashing of the agreement in case of nuclear test by India.
Those firmly stand NSG members fear India could use access to nuclear material markets to indirectly boost its bomb programme and could increase arms race. So, they were demanding insertion of clause specifying ‘no trade’ in the event of another nuclear testing, ‘no transfer’ of fuel-enrichment technology that could be used for making bomb and ‘periodic review’ of the exemption.
Though the diplomats remained tight-lipped after the end of the first day of the two-day meet with no such major breakthrough, but as per sources some issues are still left which need to be addressed and hopefully would be sorted out on Friday.
US tried to convince the sceptic countries why nuclear deal was essential with India. It also allayed apprehensions over the proliferation of nuclear materials by India. India is the largest democratic country and its past records in itself a proof that its nuclear programme is for the welfare of the mankind. Almost each country accepted India's need of nuclear energy.
According to reports, the U.S. is expected to consult overnight with the handful of countries still holding out and then talk to the Indian delegation in Vienna, with a view to develop a new draft waiver by Friday.
A diplomat said the number of countries favouring the deal have been greatly increased, certainly more than earlier. More countries are coming out with understanding of India's energy needs, he added.
US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns, who is heading the US delegation in Vienna said: “We are making steady progress in this process and will continue to make progress, And while a number of representatives here have raised important questions that need to be addressed, our discussions have been constructive and clearly aimed at reaching an early consensus.”
Soon after the end of the opening day meeting, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Prime Minister's special envoy Shyam Saran met diplomats of these countries in an attempt to allay their apprehensions. They are also to consult them on Friday before the opening of the meeting.
India, on the other hand, has once again made it clear that it would not compromise with country's sovereignty on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
The controversy sparked here on Thursday after leaking of the 'secret letter'—containing ban on nuclear commerce, disruption of nuclear fuel supplies and supply assurances made by the United States are not legally binding, but simply a commitment made by President Bush—in the media in United States. The opposition started demanding resignation of the Prime Minister for misleading the Parliament and the nation on the Indo-US nuclear deal. It charged the government for breaching the privilege of Parliament.
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