India Nuclear News and Discussion 23 July 2008

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 01 Aug 2008 08:32

http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/01/stories ... 440100.htm They will make declarations during the August 1 meeting to clarify that they remain committed to the goal of getting India to give up its nuclear weapons.

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Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 01 Aug 2008 09:02

They also remain committed to the goal of universal disarmament as per the NPT article VI.

That goal, like their Indian one, will forever remain in the distant future.

And they know it...

Katare · Post by **Katare** » 01 Aug 2008 09:45

vishwakarmaa wrote:
Katare wrote:PC Chidambram, one of the best legal minds in UPA, gave a very good speech during confidence vote. He mentioned couple things from legal point of view which may be useful for discussion here -

Also he quoted from US constitution that "any treaty signed by govt of united state becomes the supreme law of the land".
Everyone in the world knows that this is false. US is master at breaking international laws for its selfish reasons.

In this case, he quoted that line from US constitution but he forgot to elaborate that US always prefers domestic laws over international laws, for its self-interests.

So what do you propose India should do? If the sole superpower of the world is bent on not honoring its commitment there is precious little that you can do about it. But in any case the discussion is about the agreement and its content not about intent of interested parties. Anyhow I and other have shown that even if US backtracks on the deal it would not hurt us much. I or no one can predict what USA or India will do in the future. Will cross that bridge when we get there, for now what is important is that we want to make sure we don't end of signing anyhing that can turn into a future trap for us.

P.S. India has also broken rules and international commitment by exploding "smiling Buddha" using imported reactors/material/tech (at least in Canadian minds). What is the guarantee for USA and rest of the world that india will not use the tech/material for its strategic program? These are international treaties, there is no enforcement mechanism but trust and mutual understanding. Don’t loose the spirit of the whole thing, the deal is suppose to usher a new era of strategic cooperation between western world and India. If you don’t believe in it then there is little any discussion, clause or condition can do to reassure you.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 17:51

IAEA chief: No loopholes in India inspection plan - 2nd Update

23 spoke in favour of the plan, a Western diplomat said. Three countries raised some concerns, but indicated they would join a consensus, he said.

Not a bad score

EU says safeguards pact good for non-proliferation regime - Sahara Samay
Safeguards pact good for non-proliferation regime: EU - TOI

EU's word does matter a lot. While US's word means power, EU's word means global conscience. Doesn't mean, that it is true, but that is the image.

Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, etc. in Europe have indeed been cajoled. I guess it will be all the more difficult now, for Helen Clark, PM of New Zealand to come out against a consensus in NSG. Pakistan and China have indeed been neutralized. China would not go against a positive Western consensus. Pakistan has had its last say in the matter. From now on, it will be the last hold-out of nuclear lawlessness.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 18:32

India unhappy with the NSG draft prepared by US - Indian Express

As was to be expected. US might be trying to include Nuclear Testing related issues in the draft. India's position is correct. These are bilateral issues. Some have problems with nuclear testing, others don't. Russia and France may not necessarily be bothered.

Secondly, India has confirmed, that there will be no nuclear commerce with any country, until and unless US Congress approves the 123 Agreement.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 01 Aug 2008 18:48

Iran: India-US nuclear deal could set a precedent for Israel

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 01 Aug 2008 18:50

Time to get over India's nuclear bomb

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 18:51

Introductory Statement to the Board of Governors
by IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei

Draft Safeguards Agreement with India

I am pleased to put before you the draft Agreement with the Government of India for the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities. As the Secretariat has already provided an extensive briefing on this, I will emphasize just a few points.

The text before you is an INFCIRC/66-type safeguards agreement based on the Agency´s standard safeguards practices and procedures. These 66-type agreements are not comprehensive or full-scope safeguards agreements. They are concluded in accordance with Article III.A.5 of the Agency’s Statute and provide for the application of safeguards to specific facilities or other relevant items. In the case of the draft before you, it is an "umbrella agreement", which provides for any facility notified by India to the Agency in the future to become subject to safeguards. The draft also envisages the possibility of applying current Agency safeguards in India under this new agreement by suspending, subject to agreement by the relevant parties, the application of safeguards under existing agreements. The "umbrella" nature of this agreement provides a more efficient mechanism for ensuring that safeguards requirements can be met. It satisfies India´s needs while maintaining all the Agency´s legal requirements. Such an "umbrella" approach could also be used for the conclusion of other 66-type safeguards agreements. As you can see from India´s Plan, which has been circulated for the information of all IAEA Member States, a total of 14 reactors are envisaged to come under Agency safeguards by 2014. I should note that the Agency already applies safeguards to six of these 14 reactors under existing 66 type agreements with India. We expect to start implementing the agreement at new facilities in 2009. Facilities will be notified by India to the Agency in stages and the Secretariat will keep you informed when facilities are submitted for safeguards.

As with other safeguards agreements between the Agency and Member States, the agreement is of indefinite duration. There are no conditions for the discontinuation of safeguards other than those provided by the safeguards agreement itself. The termination provisions contained in the agreement are the same as for other 66-type agreements. Naturally - as with all safeguards agreements - this agreement is subject to the general rules of international law. Therefore, the agreement should be read as an integral whole. The preamble provides for contextual background and safeguards are implemented in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Finally, I should note that India and the IAEA have already begun discussions on an additional protocol to the draft safeguards agreement.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 19:00

IAEA approves India's nuclear safeguards agreement

Unanimously approved

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 19:02

Gerard wrote:Iran: India-US nuclear deal could set a precedent for Israel

They are a bit late in deducing that. No Arab countries in NSG.

Rupesh · Post by **Rupesh** » 01 Aug 2008 19:10

IAEA governors approve India inspections plan: Diplomat

VIENNA: IAEA governors have approved India’s inspections plan, advancing the US-India nuclear trade deal, a diplomat has said;

Earlier, the UN nuclear watchdog chief said on Friday that a basic inspection plan for India met safeguards standards and talks had begun on a system of extended checks, boosting prospects for a US-India nuclear trade accord.

Mohamed ElBaradei spoke at the start of a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board expected to ratify the inspections plan on his recommendation, a precondition for the India-U.S. deal to take force.

The accord would open up to India the world market in atomic materials and technology for civilian use but is controversial since New Delhi has conducted nuclear test explosions and never joined the global Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

With a go-ahead from International Atomic Energy Agency governors, India would then seek a waiver from 45 nuclear supplier nations allowing trade with a non-NPT country, then ratification from the U.S. Congress, to finalise the deal.

ElBaradei sought to address doubts by some on the 35-nation board about possible ambiguities in the plan applied to India's declared 14 civilian nuclear reactors, phrasing they said might blur distinctions between its civil and military atomic sectors.

"These are not comprehensive or full-scope safeguards (unlike with NPT member states)...," he said.

"(But) it satisfies India's needs while maintaining all the agency's legal requirements," he told the closed Vienna meeting.

"As with other safeguards agreements between the agency and member states, the agreement is of indefinite duration. There are no conditions for discontinuation ... other than those provided by the safeguards agreement itself," he said.

Some diplomats were concerned such language might allow India to halt inspections unilaterally if nuclear fuel imports were cut off, for example in response to another nuclear test, although India is observing a voluntary moratorium.

ElBaradei touched on another area of concern by announcing that talks with India on a system of short-notice, wider-ranging inspections, known as the IAEA's Additional Protocol, had begun.

Progress towards more intrusive inspections could help win over sceptical members of the NSG, which is expected to hold its first meeting on India on Aug. 21-22.

Washington and New Delhi have lobbied other countries hard -- 26 of the 35 IAEA board members also are in the NSG -- to advance the deal, with time fast running out before U.S. politics pause for November elections.

Western powers tout the deal as nudging giant India towards the non-proliferation mainstream and fighting global warming by increasing use of low-polluting nuclear energy in burgeoning developing economies, reducing high oil and gas costs as well.

Some smaller Western and developing nations and disarmament groups are concerned the deal could undermine loyalty to a 40-year-old NPT already strained by a thrust for nuclear power, led by Iran, in the volatile Middle East.

But diplomats said approval of the inspections scheme was not in doubt because, despite concern about ambiguous language, it would mark a net gain for non-proliferation.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/IAE ... 316115.cms

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 19:23

IAEA approves Indian safeguards agreement - Hindu

Alas Austria!

Chhotte Bachon ko nahin bolna chahiye, jab barhe baat kar rahe hon! Chalo Kamre men jaao tum!

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 19:39

IAEA clears India inspection plan, boosts U.S.-India deal : Reuters

Diplomats said India's pursuit of an unconditional NSG exemption faces likely demands by some members for a binding pledge of no more nuclear tests and significant progress towards implementing an Additional Protocol.

Additional Protocol is already in the works.

Pledge of no more nuclear tests is no deal.

Victor · Post by **Victor** » 01 Aug 2008 19:45

Everyone, poodles and chihuahuas included, needs to consider the alternative to a clean deal--a country with "advanced nuclear technologies" (and ICBM capabilities) that is p!ssed off and has the worst possible examples of tolerated nuclear conduct all around it. Add to that the prospect of India gassing the cr@p out of the atmosphere if it uses even half the coal that China and the US do as is perfectly within its rights.

Pulikeshi · Post by **Pulikeshi** » 01 Aug 2008 20:22

Austria also tried to garner support for a joint statement by several countries with reservations about the Indian agreement. However, this attempt fizzled out Friday morning when it became clear that all other members preferred to make their own individual statements rather than creating the impression of a "gang up" on the India question.

All hail the arrival of the new chief!

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 01 Aug 2008 20:31

Rudd govt backs US-India nuclear deal

The federal government says it will endorse a plan for the United States to share nuclear fuel and technology with India, but will not change its view on the sale of uranium.

"If we were to change our policy approach on uranium it would seriously undermine the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ... we want that treaty to be enhanced."

He said the decision taken by Australia at the IAEA meeting did not guarantee the same outcome at NSG talks.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 20:53

U.S.-India Business Council Launches Advocacy Campaign on Capitol Hill

'Thumbs Up' for India Safeguards

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 20:59

Statement by Prime Minister on IAEA approval of India’s specific safeguards agreement

Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s statement on IAEA approval of India’s specific safeguards Agreement:

“I am delighted to hear that the IAEA Board of Governors has decided today, by consensus, to approve the India Specific Safeguards Agreement. This is an important day for India, and for our civil nuclear initiative for the resumption of India’s cooperation with our friends abroad.

The civil nuclear initiative is good for India and good for the world. As we move forward towards our goal of sustainable development and energy security, the peaceful uses of atomic energy will play an increasingly important role.

I am grateful to the members of the IAEA Board of Governors, to our partners and friends abroad, and, in particular, to the USA, for making this important step in the IAEA possible.

The DG of the IAEA, Dr. El Baradei, has played a significant role and we look forward to working with him and his Agency in implementing this agreement.

I am deeply appreciative of the historic significance of this milestone in our cooperation with the IAEA and the international community in peaceful uses of atomic energy.”

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 01 Aug 2008 22:50

Gerard wrote:Time to get over India's nuclear bomb

A recent national survey by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada noted that only 34 per cent of Canadians polled agreed with the statement "Canada should accept India as a responsible nuclear power." What about China

India's academics, policy-makers and politicians regard their country as a great power. The current strains of hyper-realism circulating in Indian foreign-policy circles make it more difficult, whatever our past, for Canada to search for a finely tuned Pearsonian, middle-power pathway with New Delhi.

India and the world have changed.

So must we.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 01 Aug 2008 23:07

Perhaps the Indian political environment is not mature enough to carry the burden of responsibility, specially with the fragmentation we seem to have today.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 23:09

The NPAs meet to share collective constipation pain

Non-proliferation lobby resigns to India vote at IAEA, eyes NSG

He argued that "the Indians have a very strong tradition of acting like the British -- they have no friends but they have permanent interests. I wish sometimes the United States would act like that."

while the Non-Proliferation Treaty had its faults and "is not a perfect agreement," it is foolhardy to "throw out a whole system that you've built up painfully over 30-40 years just on a whim because you want to establish some sort of a so-called strategic relationship with a country which has always been very good at protecting its own national interests and is not about to do anything in the international arena in the years to come that's going to make it an ally of the United States."

I guess, some Americans got scared by our nuclear deal Babus.

BSR Murthy · Post by **BSR Murthy** » 01 Aug 2008 23:15

Who are with us and importantly who are not (besides Austria, Switzerland and Ireland)? A comprehensive list would be very welcome.
We can show little discretion in our travels to and purchases from these IAEA countries!

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 01 Aug 2008 23:17

RajeshA wrote:The NPAs meet to share collective constipation pain

Non-proliferation lobby resigns to India vote at IAEA, eyes NSG

He argued that "the Indians have a very strong tradition of acting like the British -- they have no friends but they have permanent interests. I wish sometimes the United States would act like that."

I guess, some Americans got scared by our nuclear deal Babus.

They want to comment on Indian foreign policy and national interest when they are only a body.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 01 Aug 2008 23:36

BSR Murthy wrote:Who are with us and importantly who are not (besides Austria, Switzerland and Ireland)? A comprehensive list would be very welcome.
We can show little discretion in our travels to and purchases from these IAEA countries!

These countries have their own constituencies at home, many governments supported by Green Parties, others having a strong nonproliferation issues past, while others having very vocal non-proliferation constituencies.

Many of these countries wanted only to register their misgivings at the prospect of nuclear deals outside the NPT, but were not necessarily anti-India. In the end, they all supported the safeguards agreement. It passed with consensus and unanimously.

I wouldn't be so harsh on these countries. However at the NSG stage, they will have a crucial vote. It is not clear at all, whether they will agree to a clean exemption for India, without incorporating some permanent ban on nuclear testing by India. That would be a very tough sell.

Some of the countries, which will definitively have some problems with the deal are:
a) New Zealand
b) Ireland
c) Sweden
d) Finland
e) Austria
f) Switzerland

Whereas EU brought out a statement of support for India today at the IAEA, it is difficult to imagine if their consensus would last till NSG meeting on August 1. Switzerland has its own mind. New Zealand will be the hardest nut to crack. Helen Clark is a die hard non-proliferationist.

USA would have to use the nuke option, I think. They will have to threaten NSG with leaving the group, if they reject India's exemption.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 01 Aug 2008 23:48

TV reports suggest that austria,ireland and nz will be the main hurdles in NSG.

BSR Murthy · Post by **BSR Murthy** » 01 Aug 2008 23:51

Rajesh, You are right about their constituencies and compulsions. Well, we will see how the vote goes at the NSG. However, when it comes to spending my money, I think I will definitely be more favorable to countries and peoples that supported India.

enqyoob · Post by **enqyoob** » 02 Aug 2008 00:13

only 34 per cent of Canadians polled agreed with the statement "Canada should accept India as a responsible nuclear power."

Only 35% were sober enough to know what they were voting, and the other one percent were the Khalistanis.

C b-lo:

OWEN SOUND, Ontario (AP) -- An Ontario mayor said Friday that the savage beating and stabbing of a black Toronto man earlier this week has racial overtones.

Mayor Ruth Lovell said that racism played a role in the Tuesday night attack of a 42-year-old man in the picturesque tourist city of Owen Sound, Ontario.

"I don't think that it was racially motivated, but I think there are racial overtones to what did happen. I think the incident started with a mistaken identity situation, but I think that once it escalated to the point of the beating ... racial overtones came forward ... remarks that were made, insults, language that would be racially inflammatory," said Lovell.

Police have said a woman who had been drinking mistook the 42-year-old victim for another man and began verbally and physically assaulting him. The victim has asked police not to release his identity.

The woman then summoned a group of men who punched, kicked, and struck the man with a wooden board before stabbing him in the chest, causing injuries that police have described as almost life-threatening.

Prominent Canadian Nuclear Responsible Power Experts Shawn Dyer, Cody Doherty and Blaine McEachern, all 19, are each charged with assault with a weapon and aggravated assault. The 17-year-old female, who cannot be identified because she is a young Nuclear Expert, faces an assault charge.

"We have to look at look at how can this happen," Lowell said.

Owen Sound's deputy chief of police, Bill Sornberger, said the victim is still in the hospital but has been moved out of the intensive care unit.

Police say they are investigating whether race played any role in the incident.

Prabu · Post by **Prabu** » 02 Aug 2008 00:14

India a step closer to nuclear club

India a step closer to nuclear club

It is a historic day for India, which has taken a major step towards ending over 30 years of nuclear isolation.

The board of governors of the UN atomic watchdog, the IAEA, cleared a crucial safeguards pact with India on Friday and importantly, they did this by consensus.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that it is an important day for India.

In the end, it took more than three hours for the IAEA's board of governors to give the go ahead to the safeguards agreement. And it was done as India had expected.

The tone was set by the IAEA chief, Mohammed El Baradei, who strongly pitched for India.

More than 30 countries made statements while at least two, Ireland and Switzerland, expressed concern that the deal could hamper non-proliferation efforts.

Pakistan, a probable spoiler, made it clear before the meeting that they would not push for a vote.
------------------------------------------------------
OK, Let us watch out for a next 2 important hurdles , to be crossed at NSG & US congress. India should do hard bargain before teh NSG to avoid conditionalities. They can use left, BJP and in fact even SP opposition to hyde, if GOI is clever !

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 02 Aug 2008 00:14

Indo-US nuclear deal bad for global nuclear restraint’

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 02 Aug 2008 00:16

Rudd's uranium ban a form of racism, says veteran Indian diplomat

enqyoob · Post by **enqyoob** » 02 Aug 2008 00:25

ndia's academics, policy-makers and politicians regard their country as a great power. The current strains of hyper-realism circulating in Indian foreign-policy circles make it more difficult, whatever our past, for Canada to search for a finely tuned Pearsonian, middle-power pathway with New Delhi.

India and the world have changed.

So must we.

Translation: Canadians think that little Injuns are OK as long as they accept their Station in Life as a "middle power" (i.e., no higher than Canada) despite having 30 times the population of Canada. If you add all the mosquities and cattle in Canada to the humans, the average IQ would zoom, but the population would not come close to that of India. Still the drink-sodden lard-tanks want to dictate "Pearsonian middle power" advice.

p_saggu · Post by **p_saggu** » 02 Aug 2008 00:25

Some of the countries, which will definitively have some problems with the deal are:
a) New Zealand
b) Ireland
c) Sweden
d) Finland
e) Austria
f) Switzerland

^ ^ ^
Pipsqueak Inc.

Now for the number of nuclear reactors operated by pipsqueak Inc:
NZ : 0
Ireland: 0
Sweden: 12 + 6 research = 18
Finland: 4 + 1 research = 5
Austria: 2 research reactors only
Switzerland: 5 + 5 research = 10

While:
India: 22 + 6 research = 28

Other than Sweden and Switzerland, these nations have no right to preach morality, New zealand and Ireland should not even be in the NSG. And this motely group has to pass judgement on the India conducts matter nuclear.
Audacity.

p_saggu · Post by **p_saggu** » 02 Aug 2008 00:33

Wiki has a Mistake
Check out the Map of India, it shows a nuclear plant in Delhi !
Nuclear Power In India
New Delhi Atomic Power Station

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 02 Aug 2008 02:26

Australian Uranium industry lobbies for trade with India

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 02 Aug 2008 02:31

The Irish are a really funny species.

The Irish people ditched the European Treaty and sent all the European leaders running for cover. Irish Govt. had a hard time placating the European leaders, that they need more time, blah, blah, blah.

Now the Irish Govt. is playing games with India's nuclear deal. I think somebody, France or Germany should have a serious word with them, that this childish behavior will not be acceptable.

I would classify all the above: New Zealand, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, etc. as racist do-gooders (RDGs). They play to their green and pro-environment and what-not constituencies, showing off how moral their government is, and don't really give a damn if 1/6 of world's population goes to hell, for all they care.

That is exactly, what we need to tell these countries in their faces. They are all show-off self-centered racist pseudo-do-gooders and they have the audacity to try to blackmail the world. Either they shut up this time at NSG or the world will throw them out of the NSG.

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 02 Aug 2008 02:35

Vienna whoop at a price - Draft nod with balm on Pak

Vienna whoop at a price
- Draft nod with balm on Pak
K.P. NAYAR
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s chopper about to land at the defence ministry helipad in Colombo on Friday. Singh, who is in Sri Lanka for the Saarc summit, is expected to meet his Pakistani counterpart on Saturday. Picture by Jay Mandal/On Assignment See Nation

Washington, Aug. 1: The board of governors of the International Atomic Energy (IAEA) was today nudged into approving a safeguards agreement with India by consensus only after the IAEA’s director-general, Mohamed ElBaradei, assured Pakistan on record that Islamabad could also keep its weapons programme and sign a similar pact with the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

ElBaradei’s assurance was couched in diplomatic nuance, but it was enough to persuade Mohammad Shahbaz, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the IAEA, not to press his opposition to the India-specific safeguards agreement that was elaborately outlined in his four-page letter to IAEA governors days after today’s board meeting was formally summoned in the third week of July.

“Such an ‘umbrella’ approach”, that produced the safeguards agreement with India “could also be used for the conclusion of other 66-type safeguards agreements”, ElBaradei assured Pakistan today in his opening statement to the board of governors. The figure 66 is a reference to the IAEA’s information circular 66 (INFCIRC-66), the basis for safeguards in a non-nuclear weapon state — and from today in nuclear weapon states which, like India, have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The director-general, who has a reputation for diplomatic finessing that was in spectacular evidence in his disagreements with the US in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, did not name Pakistan in his address to the board in Vienna.

But the implication of this one sentence in his speech was that Pakistan also had the right to separate its weapons programme from any civilian programme for nuclear energy — like India — and sign a similar safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

Before today’s meeting, ElBaradei sent one of his aides, Vilmos Cserveny, the director of the IAEA Office of External Relations and Policy Co-ordination, to Shahbaz.

Sources at the IAEA said Cserveny briefed the Pakistani ambassador in plain language what the director-general could not put more bluntly lest it reinforced worries among hard core non-proliferationists on the IAEA board, who already had reservations about ‘umbrella’ agreements such as India’s.

ElBaradei told reporters after the board meeting that “I have always maintained that if we were to move forward toward... a world free from nuclear weapons, that dialogue has to be universal and inclusive”.

He then assured Islamabad that “we cannot exclude from that debate India or Pakistan or Israel -- the three countries who remain outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty”.

For New Delhi, a victory that was as significant as the approval of the safeguards agreement today was in ElBaradei’s diplomatic nuancing elsewhere in his statement.

“Finally, I should note that India and the IAEA have already begun discussions on an additional protocol to the draft safeguards agreement,” ElBaradei said at the end of his speech.

It is India’s contention that it will sign AN additional protocol to the safeguards agreement, not THE additional protocol, the standard model which has been approved by the board of the global nuclear watchdog for 125 countries.

AN additional protocol is a term, which India’s ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen, had slipped into the joint statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W. Bush on July 18, 2005, just before its final draft was approved, insuring India’s nuclear programme against surprise, intrusive inspections.

By acknowledging today that India will not sign THE model IAEA protocol that applies to non-nuclear weapon states, ElBaradei has set at rest speculation about the next step in the operationalisation of the nuclear deal and nipped in the bud controversies that could have derailed negotiations on the protocol that have already begun in Vienna.

The setting for today’s deliberations of the board was somewhat bizarre from an Indian point of view. Everyone of the IAEA governors trooped past a bust of Homi Bhabha, the father of India’s nuclear programme, that was at the entrance to the room in which they met to approve the India-specific agreement.

But the meeting was not as much of a smooth affair as India’s permanent representative to the IAEA, Saurabh Kumar, had sought to assure South Block that it would be.

Contrary to earlier expectations that the Board would wrap up its approval in the morning itself, the Governors had to reconvene for a second, post-lunch session to hear out those who had reservations about certain provisions of the Agreeement with India.

At the end of the day, there were worrying signals for India that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) may only convene towards the end of the third week of August and not within 10 days as the US has been lobbying for.

That may well upset the Bush administration’s time-table for sending the nuclear deal back to the US Congress for final approval in early September, especially if the NSG, which must change its rules for global nuclear commerce, decides that it wants a second meeting to take a decision.

Pulikeshi · Post by **Pulikeshi** » 02 Aug 2008 02:56

He argued that "the Indians have a very strong tradition of acting like the British -- they have no friends but they have permanent interests. I wish sometimes the United States would act like that."

Win or lose this deal - when you get a compliment from your "enemy" thats when its happening!

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 02 Aug 2008 03:12

‘Delighted’ Delhi lobs NSG rider

Officials accompanying the Prime Minister to Colombo implied the US draft contained some conditions, but asserted that India wanted it modified to get a “clean and unconditional” waiver from the NSG

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 02 Aug 2008 03:12

Deal sails through IAEA, braces for some NSG rough weather : Indian Express

NSG countries saying no

Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, China, New Zealand and Ireland: Undermines NPT, should sign CTBT, one-off exception for India not justified

That is the dangerous club of the show-off self-centered racist pseudo-do-gooders. If they get together and find comfort in their numbers, then India can say goodbye to the nuclear deal.

China did not really say anything much against the deal, except that it ought to non-discriminatory. Me thinks the Chinese were trying to assess the amount of anti-deal feeling among the Board of Governors and in IAEA generally. The Chinese and the Pakistanis may start a whisper campaign now about trying to bring in Pakistan as well into the fold. The Iranians, Egyptians and Malaysians would start the drumbeats about a US plot to bring in Israel from the cold. Integrating Pakistan and Israel, the other two Non-NPT countries with nuclear weapons into the system may not sit well with RDG club above and they may get cold feet with the India deal.

The Lizard and the worm's "Non-Descrimination Mantra" on the one side, and the "Zionist Conspiracy" by the Ummah on the other side, may be sufficient to do the trick on the above mentioned mental-pygmies.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 02 Aug 2008 03:14

Sri Lanka seeks nuclear reactors from India