ISRO-NASA talks will begin after 123 agreement: Nair

Chennai, Sep 7 (UNI) Welcoming the NSG waiver, lifting the decades-long ban on nuclear trade with India, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan Nair today said ISRO would begin talks with NASA on future space programmes once the 123 agreement comes into place.

Talking to newspersons after he was conferred with the honorary doctorate by the SRM University, a leading private Educational Institution at Kattankulathur, near here, he said the NSG waiver was a major achivement for our scientists and technologists.

Asked whether ISRO would have more collaboration with NASA in the wake of NSG waiver, Mr Nair said ''at present we do not have any plan for cooperation. After the 123 agreement comes into place, we have to see how we can collaborate with NASA.'' Referring to the embargo and technology denial the Pokhran nuclear test, he said ''with NSG waiver, now we will get an opportunity to interact with developed nations in this area (in the field of nuclear energy).'' He described the NSG waiver, lifting the ban on nuclear commerce with India as a recognition to the country as an important nuclear power in the world. ''It is a recognition to India in the global community.'' He said India was very much advanced in nuclear technology and the NSG waiver would take the country out of the decades-long embargo regime and help the country in advancing its technologies.

''Its a recognition of our achievement and it is going to help us in the hi-tech area,'' Mr Nair said, adding the NSG waiver was also a major achievement for our scientists and technologists.

''Its a good sign. We are able to establish ourselves as a major technological power in the global arena,'' he said.

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