IAEA talks tomorrow

After the Left parties' nod, the government will approach the IAEA for talks on the safeguards agreement that is crucial for implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal.

"We are going to the IAEA, let us see," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters in New Delhi when asked when the government would approach the global nuclear watchdog for talks on the India-specific safeguards agreement.

Asked whether any timeframe had been fixed for the negotiations, he merely said, "We are just going there, we will discuss". He did not elaborate.

Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) sources said in Mumbai that its Chairman Anil Kakodkar would be travelling to Vienna tomorrow and meet IAEA Secretary General Mohammad ElBaradei on Wednesday.

Kakodkar, who will be accompanied by DAE's Strategic Planning Group Director Ravi B Grover, will hold discussions on the separation plan of Indian nuclear plants, the safeguard arrangements of the fuel dependent countries and demands by India on country-specific safeguards.

The Indian delegation's visit to Vienna was finalised after the Left parties gave a conditional go-ahead to the government to hold talks with the IAEA on last Friday.