No change in India's nuclear position with US: Anand Sharma

Shimla, Apr 9 (UNI) Minister of State for External Affair, Anand Sharma today said that there was no change in India's position regarding the nuclear deal with the United States during President George Bush recent visit and expressed hope that the issue would be discussed extensively the US Congress.

Talking to mediapersons here Mr Sharma said that unanimity was a rare phenomenon in any mature democracy and divergent views were bound to emerge but in the light of growing multidimensional strategic relations of the US with India, the irritants would be removed.

He said that the understanding had been clear and transparent and discussed in both Houses of Parliament in India while the US Congress was debating the issue. He said that the issue of minimuem nuclear deterrent and nuclear seperation plans had been explained in the understanding and India had retained its right to determinie the minimum credible nuclear deterrent.

Replying to a question regarding pressure of P-5 countries on India to open its economy, Mr Sharma said that India was taking all World Trade Organisation (WTO) related matter in consultation with G-20 countires and assured that the interests of the people, especially in agricultured sector would be safeguarded.

Mr Sharma said that developing countries were looking towards India in all these matters and added that the country was clear about free trade movement but interests of underdeveloped and devloping countries must be protected. He said that India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) were also playing a key role on these issues.

Referring to efforts to launch a global war against terrorism, the External Affairs Minister said that India was working on a comprehensive international conference on terrorism through the United Nation in which all related issues pertaining to terrorism across the world and extradition treaties would be adequately addressed.

He said that India had become a major contributor to the United Nations Democracy fund and had made a contribution of 10 million dollars besides becoming a member of the Central Emergency response Fund (CERF).

India was reaching out to countries like Latin America and South Africa and had offered them help to bridge the digital divide by providing services like telemedicine and technology through statellite.

UNI