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India wants 'clear' waiver from NSG

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BS Reporter New Delhi

"We expect a clear and unconditional waiver since the nuclear energy needs a commitment of 40 to 60 years (between trading countries) and un-ambiguity is not needed," said Shivshankar Menon, foreign secretary, while briefing media persons here today.

Menon, who recently led a team to brief the board of Governors of the International atomic energy agency (IAEA) and NSG members at Vienna on India-specific safety agreement with IAEA said that several drafts of the waiver agreement were already in circulation among the NSG countries for India specific moves.

 

He said that since it was for the first time a non-NPT (Non-proliferation treaty) signatory country was sought to be allowed to do business in civil nuclear energy, several drafts and suggestions were being put forward within the NSG club.

Menon said that to operationalise the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, New Delhi's efforts would be over with the IAEA okaying the safeguards agreement.

"Since we are not an NSG member India has no role (In moving the NSG) and it is for others to get a waiver," he said.

According to Menon, at the IAEA secretariat would again brief all the 144 member countries on July 25 on the technicalities of the safeguards agreement with India.

The IAEA's boards of governors is expected to meet on August 1 to finalise the agreement with India.

Menon, however, said that some of the NSG countries still had misgivings about giving a clear waiver to India. "We are talking to them," he said.

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First Published: Jul 21 2008 | 6:46 PM IST

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