Russia vows support to India at NSG

Moscow, Aug 14 (UNI) Russia has promised support to India in getting removed the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) curbs on nuclear commerce.

''The response was very good and positive,'' Prime Minister's Special Envoy on the Indo-US Nuclear deal Shyam Saran said today, after his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavorov.

Mr Saran apprised the Russian Foreign Minister of the talks held in Washington on fostering the Indo-US cooperation in civilian nuclear field, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The talks mainly focussed on advancing strategic partnership between Russia and India, the statement said.

Moscow was the first stop in Mr Saran's 10-day itinerary after the successful completion of the India-US 123 Agreement. He will also visit Germany, Brazil and Argentina to enlist support of the 45-member NSG, which only works by consensus.

After obtaining the Indo-US deal on civil nuclear cooperation, India is now approaching NSG members, individually as the NSG is required to change its guidelines to allow cooperation in the civilian nuclear energy sector with India, which is not a signatory to the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty.

UNI