India releases Safeguards Agreement with IAEA

New Delhi, Jul 10 (UNI) India today made public the vital Nuclear Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the civilian nuclear deal with the United States, opening a window for nuclear trade with the world and delivering yet another jab to the Left parties back home.

The Safeguards Agreement was submitted by the IAEA to its 35-member Board of Governors in Vienna last night for consideration although a date for discussion has not yet been decided.

The 24-page document clears the way for India to take the next step -- approach the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)-- and inch towards finalisation of the July 18, 2005, Civilian Nuclear Agreement with the United States.

The Left Parties which formally withdrew support to the UPA government yesterday, had been demanding that the Manmohan Singh government make public the Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA.

The Agreement allows India to take ''corrective measures'' to ensure uninterrupted operation of its civilian nuclear facilities in the event of disruption of foreign fuel supplies.

The Agreement, however, does not list the nuclear facilities that can be put under IAEA Safeguards.

India has given an undertaking that none of its items, subject to this Agreement, shall be used for the manufacture of any nuclear weapon or to further any other military purpose and that these would be used exclusively for civilian purposes.

''Upon entry into force of this agreement, and a determination by India that all conditions conducive to the accomplishment of the objective of this agreement are in place, India shall file with the agency, a declaration based on its sovereign decision to place voluntarily its civilian nuclear facilities under Agency safeguards in a phased manner,'' the Agreement says.

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