Japan recognises India's need for nuclear power: official New Delhi (AFP) Aug 4, 2008 Japan recognises India's need for civilian nuclear power, a Japanese government official said here Monday, a day ahead of talks in which an Indo-US atomic energy pact is expected to be a key focus. Japanese foreign minister Masahiko Koumura and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee were due to meet Tuesday in New Delhi to discuss the pact and other regional issues. "We understand India's energy needs and its quest for civil nuclear power," Kazuo Kodama, Japan's foreign ministry spokesman, told reporters in the Indian capital. Koumura is the first top envoy from a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to visit India since the UN's atomic watchdog (IAEA) approved a pact with New Delhi that was key to finalising the US-India nuclear cooperation deal. New Delhi has undertaken an intensive lobbying effort to gain international approval for the safeguards accord, which will subject Indian nuclear facilities to IAEA supervision and is a pre-condition to the deal under which New Delhi can be supplied with US civilian nuclear fuel and technology. But India still needs a waiver from the NSG -- 45 states exporting nuclear fuel and technology -- and ratification by the US Congress before the deal can go through. The nuclear pact is aimed at helping energy-hungry India meet its fast-growing fuel needs, clearing the way for it to resume nuclear commerce with the international community after a gap of over three decades. Japanese officials said Tokyo hoped India would eventually sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Japan, the only nation to have suffered a nuclear attack, is a strong advocate of non-proliferation. The NSG is expected to meet in Vienna on August 21 to consider a waiver for India to go ahead with the US pact. The NSG's rules ban trade with states that have not signed the NPT. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
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UN atomic agency approves key inspections deal with India Vienna (AFP) Aug 1, 2008 The UN's atomic watchdog approved an inspections agreement Friday with India that is key to finalising a US-India nuclear cooperation deal that critics say undermines non-proliferation efforts. |
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