US expresses reservations on Russian fuel supply to India

Washington, Mar 16: The United States has expressed its reservations to the proposed Russian supply of nuclear fuel to India indicating that any such move should await compliance by India of its obligations under the civilian nuclear technology agreement between the two countries.

State Department Spokesman Adam Ereli yesterday declined to speculate on the issue pertaining to possible impact of the Russian offer on the India-US nuclear deal.

He, however, said the US recognised India's pressing need for nuclear fuel, adding it's committed to secure a regular supply of fuel for India through the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

''The joint initiative and the legislation (to implement it) are designed to provide fuel supply in that way, consistent with Indian commitments to undertake steps to bring it into compliance with IAEA safeguards. And it's important that they do so as part of an effort to get nuclear fuel. It's all part of a broad and connected process,'' he added.

Under the US-India nuclear deal, which reverses three decades of US policy, India will get access to nuclear technology in return for opening up its civilian nuclear facilities to international inspections. To facilitate this India has already submitted a separation plan designating 14 of its reactors as civilian out of 22 and kept aside the remaining eight for military puposes.

But the deal has yet to be ratified by the US Congress and the 45-member NSG, of which Russia is a member.

The NSG controls trade in atomic fuel, which has long been denied to India after it conducted nuclear tests in Pokhran and refused to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Russia, which is a member of NSG cannot supply fuel to countries like India which have not signed the NPT.

UNI