Indo-US N-deal with IAEA to be finalised soon: AEC

Chennai, Feb 27: Eminent Nuclear Scientist and Atomic Energy Commission(AEC) Chairman Anil Kakodkar today said talks on the Indo-US Nuke deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was progressing well and it would be finalised as early as possible after ensuring that India's requirements were adequately met.

Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of a function here, Dr Kakodkar said there were certain complex issues in the Nuke pact which should be addressed one by one. Fresh round of talks between India and the IAEA began at Vienna yesterday on addressing the India-specific safeguards, one of the critical issues in the deal.

''Discussions are progressing well. But there are some complex issues involved in it and those things have to be taken forward step by step'', he added.

''We would like to do it as fast as possible'', he said, when asked how soon the talks were expected to be finalised.

''But we have to see that India's requirements are properly met (before finalising it)'', he added.

Dr Kakodkar parried a question on whether the Indo-US Nuke deal would be put on the backburner in the event of a change in government after the elections in the US.

''I don't want to comment on it as I am a technical person'', he averred.

UNI