Germany stops short of supporting Indo-US nuke deal

Hannover, Apr 23 (UNI) While acknowledging India's impeccable non-proliferation record, Germany today stopped short of endorsing the Indo-US deal on civilian nuclear energy cooperation, saying Berlin would wait for its ratification by the US Congress.

"We will be following closely the process of ratification in the US Congress and the discussions in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). If the process in the US Congress and the NSG is positive, Germany will be willing to cooperate,"German Chnacellor Angela Merkel told reporters at a media interaction after her wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Indo-US nuclear deal prominently figured during the talks between the two leaders.

Germany, an important member of the NSG, had so far experssed reservation over the Indo-US deal but Chancellor Merkel's remarks indicate that Berlin was willing to back the accord, keeping in mind the fact that India has acted as a responsible nuclear power.

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