India will not compromise on certain issues in NSG draft: NSA

New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) India today made it clear that it would not endorse the civilian nuclear agreement, if certain issues drawn in ''red line'' in the new draft agreement to be placed before the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) on September 4-5 are not settled.

''There is no question of cosmetic or otherwise. What we are asking is that there are certain issues which have been drawn in red lines by us, because those are the commitments which have been made by our Prime Minister. On those red lines we can't (give way) because that we have told Parliament. These are sacrosanct, if these are not met, we cannot endorse the agreement,'' National Security Advisor M K Narayanan said today.

Asked whether the August 21-22 meeting of the NSG, which could not arrive at a consensus on granting a clean waiver to India, was a setback, the NSA said it was neither a debacle nor a setback.

It was a pause and India was prepared for this.

Asserting that India was nearing the goal, he expressed confidence that the next NSG meeting would not be a problem and the difficulties would be surmounted through ''creative diplomacy''.

In an interview with a private television channel, he said the US, Russia, France, the UK and a number of others had done ''herculean efforts''. ''I think we are nearing the goal.'' Asked whether he was confident that India's concerns would be taken care of in the new draft agreement, the NSA said there are three principal concerns that had been flagged.

''We have sort of already flagged our concerns. Those concerns are well known. I think most of the country recognised the validity of our concerns, there are some countries who, I think, are ideologically committed to the concepts or ideas of non-proliferation and hence, tend to take a very hardline position.

I think it is really a question of convincing them that India, with its impeccable record of non-proliferation has always stood - if necessary - for the universal nuclear disarmament (and) is the right candidate for universal nuclear commerce.'' To a question on whether India accepted the language used in the 123 agreement, if it were to be used in this new NSG draft, Mr Narayanan said India always made this point that testing is a word that was difficult to adjust with Parliament having mandated to do so.

''Testing would be difficult for us. So, we will find ways around it.'' He expressed confidence that whatever is finally agreed to with the NSG countries, would be something that could be ''sold'' to Parliament.

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