India to appraoch IAEA 'very soon': Foreign Sec

New Delhi, Nov 19: India will 'very soon' appoach the IAEA to finalise an agreement that will pave way for cooperation with other countries in the field of civilian nuclear energy.

''We will approach the IAEA very soon,'' Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters here today but refused to give an exact time for the purpose.

India's decision to approach the IAEA comes after the Left parties permitted the UPA Government to discuss the nuclear safeguards agreement with the UN nuclear watchdog.

About the criticism in certain quarters of the Indo-US nuclear deal, Mr Menon said '' we are in favour of evolving a consensus both internally as well as externally.'' He said ''this is an unprecedented negotiation... there is need to hold broader negotiations on it in the country.'' UNI