India and the US are racing against time to get the nuke deal sealed and signed before the end of president George W Bush’s term.
NEW DELHI: India and the US are racing against time to get the nuke deal sealed and signed before the end of president George W Bush’s term.
US ambassador David Mulford told reporters on Wednesday Washington would call a meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in “a week to 10 days” after the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meets on August 1 to endorse the safety agreement between India and the nuclear watchdog.
Mulford said on phone from Cleveland the “US is ready and geared” to follow through on the remaining steps of the deal. He said India and the US would open a broad front
and work with IAEA and NSG member-states.
“We are delighted” with the turn of events and prime minister Manmohan Singh’s decision to push through with the deal, the envoy said, adding that the two sides were now geared to work together at the IAEA and NSG.
Mulford explained the US was aware that a second meeting of the NSG may be required by some members, so it is imperative to have enough time to call for it later in August. The aim is to place both the NSG waiver and the IAEA safety agreement before the US Congress by early September to give it enough time to get the deal done before year end.
Condoleezza Rice is traveling to New Zealand and Australia this week and will seek support for India at the IAEA board and NSG. New Zealand has a very strong non-proliferation lobby and does not allow nuclear-armed vessels in its territorial waters.
Mulford said the US will push for a “clean exemption” at NSG. The formal draft of the exemption will be circulated to NSG member-nations “shortly”, he said.
This is likely to be done after the IAEA vote. Asked about China’s stand, Mulford said Washington expected it to cooperate. On Pakistan working towards a vote at the IAEA board, he said the issue would be addressed and resolved.
Meanwhile, minister for science and technology Kapil Sibal will travel to the Nordic countries.
Anand Sharma, junior minister in the foreign ministry, had had bilateral talks with heads of delegations of Thailand, Canada and Australia on a visit to Singapore for the ASEAN meeting. The last two countries are members of NSG and the IAEA board. Anand will also go to Australia and Canada, besides countries in Africa.
Minister in the PMO Prithviraj Chauhan will travel to Portugal and Italy and is waiting for an appointment with the Chinese.
g_seema@dnaindia.net
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