Hafizzz
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India uranium sales no fait accompli: Rudd
India uranium sales no fait accompli: Rudd
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says uranium sales to India are no sure thing even if Labor does overturn its ban at next week's national conference.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is pushing to end the party's long-held policy of refusing uranium sales to India because it is outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT.
It is believed Ms Gillard will win enough support for the change at the Sydney conference that begins on Friday.
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Mr Rudd says he supports Ms Gillard's position even though he was not consulted before her announcement.
But he has warned that a policy change won't automatically translate into a beginning of sales.
Rather, India will first have to make strong commitments under a bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement.
"I take my non-proliferation responsibilities deadly seriously," Mr Rudd told Sky News on Sunday.
"This will not be a lay down misere.
"This will require fundamental commitments from the Indian government in a bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement with Australia of an identical type that we have with the 20 other countries to whom we export uranium at present."
Mr Rudd said he would be taking a "hard line" as Australia's principle negotiator on any such agreement.
He conceded India currently had no "crushing need" for Australian uranium but rather the policy change was aimed at cultivating good relations with the rising Asian power.
"The strategic relationship with India for the decade ahead is of great important to our national interests," he said.
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop said Mr Rudd's comments made Ms Gillard's announcement even more extraordinary.
"If Kevin Rudd is the principle negotiator for uranium sales to India why was he not included in any discussion prior to the prime minister making her announcement?" Ms Bishop told Sky News.
"It just goes to show there is still significant dysfunction at the head of the government."
Labor frontbencher Stephen Smith once said there shouldn't be a crack of light between the prime minister and foreign minister, Ms Bishop reminded.
But between Ms Gillard and Mr Rudd there was a "yawning chasm", she said.
India uranium sales no fait accompli: Rudd
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says uranium sales to India are no sure thing even if Labor does overturn its ban at next week's national conference.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is pushing to end the party's long-held policy of refusing uranium sales to India because it is outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT.
It is believed Ms Gillard will win enough support for the change at the Sydney conference that begins on Friday.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Mr Rudd says he supports Ms Gillard's position even though he was not consulted before her announcement.
But he has warned that a policy change won't automatically translate into a beginning of sales.
Rather, India will first have to make strong commitments under a bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement.
"I take my non-proliferation responsibilities deadly seriously," Mr Rudd told Sky News on Sunday.
"This will not be a lay down misere.
"This will require fundamental commitments from the Indian government in a bilateral nuclear safeguards agreement with Australia of an identical type that we have with the 20 other countries to whom we export uranium at present."
Mr Rudd said he would be taking a "hard line" as Australia's principle negotiator on any such agreement.
He conceded India currently had no "crushing need" for Australian uranium but rather the policy change was aimed at cultivating good relations with the rising Asian power.
"The strategic relationship with India for the decade ahead is of great important to our national interests," he said.
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop said Mr Rudd's comments made Ms Gillard's announcement even more extraordinary.
"If Kevin Rudd is the principle negotiator for uranium sales to India why was he not included in any discussion prior to the prime minister making her announcement?" Ms Bishop told Sky News.
"It just goes to show there is still significant dysfunction at the head of the government."
Labor frontbencher Stephen Smith once said there shouldn't be a crack of light between the prime minister and foreign minister, Ms Bishop reminded.
But between Ms Gillard and Mr Rudd there was a "yawning chasm", she said.
). Australia has to toe the global line. If it doesn't, it loses a giant customer and keep licking its wounds. 
