India can't take our support in NSG on nuke deal for granted:Japan

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) Hours before the arrival of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on an official visit to India, Japan today made it clear that New Delhi could not take its support for the Indo-US deal in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for granted.

Japan, an influential member of the 45-Member NSG, said it would be extremely difficult for Tokyo to take a lead in supporting the deal at the NSG, given the strong sentiments in Japan against nuclear proliferation.

''Japan understands the importance of the nuclear deal for India. We know India needs nuclear energy to tackle the challenge of global warming and meet its others needs to emerge as a global economic power. But we are in no position to initiate a discussion in support of the nuclear deal in the NSG,'' senior Japanese officials here said.

Emphasising that Japan would keenly observe the discussions in the NSG, they said ''if there is an overwhelming support for the deal in the NSG, we will take a view on it.'' Noting that India and Japan would have to sign a bilateral agreement to give effect to the Indo-US nuclear deal, the officials said the proposed accord would have to be first approved by the Japanese Parliament.

Asked to comment on the strong Chinese reaction to the proposed Naval exercises by India, US, Australia, Japan and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal next month, they said '' this can in no way be described as an anti-China partnership.'' The officials said Japan's relations with China had shown a steady improvement and India's ties with Beijing were also on an upswing.

On the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with India, the officials said it would be discussed at length during the Japanese Prime Minister's talks with Indian leaders. The two countries were expected to conclude talks on the agreement by the end of the next year after which the accord was expected to be signed.

Eds: here pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI