Nuclear supplier countries give green light to landmark US-India deal
VIENNA (AFP) — The United States, following weeks of tough negotiations, finally secured the approval of nuclear supplier nations here Saturday for proposals to lift a 34-year-old embargo on nuclear trade with India.
On the third consecutive day of crunch talks, the so-called Nuclear Suppliers Group, which controls the export and sale of nuclear technology, reached consensus on a one-off waiver of its rules for India, which refuses to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"This is a historic moment for the Nuclear Suppliers Group, for India, for US-Indian relations, indeed India's relations with the rest of the world," acting US Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security, John Rood, told reporters at the end of around 90 minutes of talks on Saturday.
"Today at the NSG, we have reached a landmark decision to allow for civil nuclear trade with India," Rood said.
"This is an important moment also for the strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation regime," he said.
"This is a critically important moment for meeting the energy needs in India, and indeed dealing with the global need for clean and reliable energy supplies."
NSG rules ban nuclear trading with India because it refuses to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty, developed atomic bombs in secret and conducted its first nuclear test in 1974.
The United States wants a special waiver for India, so it can share civilian nuclear technology with New Delhi.
The United States argues the deal would bring India into the NPT fold and help combat global warming by allowing it to develop low-polluting nuclear energy.
Critics say the deal undermines international non-proliferation efforts and accuse the nuclear powers of pursuing commercial and political gains.
It was the second time in two weeks that the NSG had met to try and agree on a change in its rules and was characterised by hard-nosed bargaining on both sides, with some member countries complaining of "bullying" tactics by Washington, diplomats who attended the negotiations said.
Discussions had been going on since Thursday and had broken up shortly before 2:00 am (0000 GMT) on Saturday after the Chinese delegation walked out in support of three countries -- Austria, Ireland and New Zealand -- holding out for a clear-cut commitment on India's part to refrain from nuclear bomb testing.
Washington was keen to get a deal through so that the US Congress could ratify it before it adjourned at the end of September for November elections.
There had been three main sticking points: termination of trade if India tests, no transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technology and an annual review of the agreement.
But the crunch issue appeared to be nuclear testing, since New Delhi has not signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
India had said it "remains committed to a voluntary, unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing."
Austria said that it had one of the last countries to agree only after India made a "formal declaration" to stand by its non-proliferation commitments and uphold its moratorium on nuclear bomb tests.
Copyright © 2008 AFP.