Will India's N- waiver get a nod?

Just In: The 45 member Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) meet began at 2.30 pm on Saturday, Sep 6 and no positive feedback has been reported till now. Government sources have mentioned that India is upset with China and New Zealand as China is trying to prevent consensus from other countries. India has considered punishing the two countries through cancellation of Chinese Foreign Minister's visit to India and cancelling New Zealand's Governor General's visit to India.

However, US has called in China's Pesident, Hu Jintao for support. Sources stated that US is optimistic about the Nuclear agreement today.

New Delhi/Vienna, Sep 6: US plan to lift a ban on India on the nuclear commerce was stalled from Friday, Sep 5 to Saturday after the revised proposal of India towards nuclear deal failed to get an approval from the NSG member countries, because it did not bind India to refrain from conducting nuclear bomb tests, diplomats said. The 45 member Nuclear supplier Group (NSG) of IAEA will resume their meeting at 2.30 pm on Saturday, Sep 6 to declare India 'clean waiver' after 34 years of long wait towards nuclear deal.

In an attempt to convince the smaller countries opposing NSG waiver for India, US diplomats have been engaged with the diplomats of smaller countries. The waiver document has already gone through two set of changes.

"You are probably aware that the Indian government has released a significant statement today with respect to India's non proliferation commitments. I report that statement has made a substantial impact on the governments of the NSG and that has facilitated the progress that we achieved today. US remains committed to reaching consensus in Vienna at the NSG to allow for nuclear trade with India." US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security John Rood said.

"This is an important matter. This is a serious subject that is given a very serious discussion by our colleagues and I remain optimistic that we can achieve our objective to reach a consensus here," Rood said.

There were six countries opposing the NSG waiver for India at the start of the meeting, but at the end of round two that concluded at 2 am on Saturday, Austria and Ireland remained unconvinced. The rejection came stating that the amended language presented to them individually by US officials was 'inadequate'.

The two countries said India must categorically commit to refrain from nuclear tests and the document must spell out what kind of 'automatic reprisal' would follow in the event of transgression.

"Even though the negotiations could take more time, there might be a nod for the NSG waiver," said Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Peter Launsky.

"Austria understands the importance of the nuclear deal for India. Austria appreciates significance of the fact that India is able to meet her energy needs. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the ongoing efforts should strengthen international non-proliferation. The objective of Austria going to the NSG meeting is that the result should reflect a net gain for the international security" he said.

"The participants have shown a constructive spirit. Efforts are on to include some auxiliary measures that would compliment existing draft and thus net gain for international security. There are ways and means of extending the limit of the talks by few hours," he added.

Ruling out any substantive changes, India has rejected any attempt to add a clause on testing to the waiver document. However, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said that India was committed to non-proliferation and a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing went a long way in converting sceptic countries over to its side.

Diplomats in vienna are altering the document to make it acceptable from all NSG members.

Even though the negotiations failed to make headway, sources say the fact that the talks haven"t broken down indicate that all the 45 NSG nations hope to evolve a consensus soon. According to the NSG rules, the waiver must be approved unanimously for it to be adopted.

OneIndia News