Japan hints at helping India at NSG

Japan today indicated that it would play a "positive role'' at the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers' Group) to help India's case for getting crucial supplies for its nuclear plants - which is the next step in augmenting the civil nuclear deal with the United States.

A senior official from prime minister's office who briefed media persons on the visit of the Shinzo Abe said that "Japan would play a positive role in discussions at the NSG (when India goes there to seek clearance from all the NSG members for fuel supplies).''

The spokesman for Abe said that, "Japan understands the importance of nuclear energy for India and also India's deep interest in securing fuel supplies for its plants,'' Besides, he said, Japan also realizes that ``how important this (India's getting nuclear fuel) was for (arresting) the global climate change.''

It may be mentioned that Japanese prime Minister Abe is passionate about the global warming and has recently given out a 30-point charter for the developing world to work on for reducing its the harmful impact. The nuclear fuel does not produce global warming and is therefore advocated as a safer energy option.

Claiming that Abe's government would have to do a fine balancing between the anti-nuclear sentiment at home and supporting India's case at the NSG, the spokesman said. "Japan would also like to see India forthcoming with information to ensure transparency in its deals at the NSG and also with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Association).''

Japan's support at the NSG is crucial for India, given the country's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation after the tragic fate of being the only country in the world to have suffered a nuclear bombing.

On a further positive note, the spokesperson said "Japan is however ready to start afresh the debate within the country on neutral lines on the need for India to have nuclear energy and also the importance of this for the global climate.''

In a subtle attempt at highlighting the business opportunities that lay ahead for Japan in case India is able to go ahead with its nuclear programme, the spokesman said, "at a time when India and US have signed a deal on nuclear energy it is important to mention that Japan has the cutting edge technology on nuclear plants.'' He said the country was equipped with technology to install the next generation of nuclear plants and was among the few countries where fresh nuclear plants are being installed in recent years.''

He however admitted that open talk of supporting countries on nuclear deal was still an anathema in Japan and said, "Two months ago Japan's defence minister had to resign after he said that the atomic bombing could not have been helped.''