Russia for early India talks with IAEA, NSG for N-cooperation

Moscow, Oct 21 (UNI) Russia wants India to settle all issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), so that further nuclear cooperation take place between the two countries.

''Putting on hold the 123 agreement with the US may affect not only building of four additional reactors at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, but also on new sites in India,'' warned Russian nuclear experts.

The experts say that affects Russia's interests, too. Apart from achieving internal political consensus on the deal, India should sign an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency on guarantees and extract the Nuclear Suppliers Group's compliance to lift restrictions on supplies of nuclear technologies to India, Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta said.

So far, the main project in Russian-Indian nuclear cooperation has been the Kudankulam nuclear power plant -two power units with a total capacity of 2000 MW.

Earlier, the NSG did did not allow France to supply nuclear fuel for the US built Tarapur Nuclear Power plant. Later, Russia was able to supply fuel only after the US consent in 2006.

Washington enjoys considerable clout in NSG as such it would become near impossible for any NSG memeber to aid India's N programme.

UNI