No need for hurry, hints IAEA chief

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed El Baradei today indicated there was no time period for operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal. "I am ready to wait till the government of India decides to talk with us," he said.

Baradei gave the much-needed breathing period to UPA government, which had to agree to the Left parties' condition to put talks with the IAEA on hold till their joint panel reached a final decision on the nuclear deal.

Baradei was answering questions by the media before he was whisked away by the officials of the Department of Atomic Energy and the Ministry of External Affairs after a function at the Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACERC), the research wing of Tata Memorial Centre.

Baradei accepted on behalf of the IAEA 'Bhbabtron II', a computerised tele-cobalt machine developed by Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for treating cancer. The machine will be installed in a Vietnam hospital.

Expressing confidence that talks with the government would be successful, he said, "Talks with the government of India have always been fruitful."

Earlier, addressing a gathering of scientists, Baradei said nuclear energy was not limited to power generation but had a wide range of applications in medicine, agriculture and bio-technology.

Insisting that developing countries must invest in science and technology, Baradei said India had shown the world how science and technology could be used for the uplift of millions.

"India is and has always been a valuable partner of the agency and as India expands its civilian nuclear programme, it will play an important role in demonstrating the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and in limiting the arms race," said Baradei.