nitesh
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now check this:
NZ denies blocking India's nuclear dream - New Zealand's source for World News on Stuff.co.nz
NZ denies blocking India's nuclear dream
By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media | Wednesday, 27 August 2008
New Zealand has denied it is trying to make India sign key anti-nuclear treaties in the debate over approving an India-US nuclear pact.
In a statement, Disarmament Minister Phil Goff has partially lifted a veil of secrecy around the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) which must approve, by consensus, the nuclear deal between Delhi and Washington. It is known for its secrecy.
New Zealand has been cited as one of six small countries said to oppose the deal. The NSG failed to agree on it last week and will meet again on September 4.
"The discussions last week were robust and constructive and we look forward to continuing this dialogue around a revised draft exemption text at next month's meeting," Mr Goff said.
He has revealed, for the first time, that the NSG has around 50 amendments to the proposed treaty text.
"The key function of the NSG is to formulate guidelines for managing exports of nuclear material, equipment and technology to ensure that this trade does not contribute to nuclear weapons proliferation."
Discussion centred on trying to come up with compatible objectives in the US-India Civil Nuclear Co-operation Agreement.
"While New Zealand remains a strong advocate of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and would welcome India's accession to these treaties, we have not included these elements in our package of proposals," Mr Goff said.
He added New Zealand acknowledged the "potential benefits" in the nuclear pact "while noting concerns and the need for consistency in pursuing the objective of non-proliferation.
"A large number of countries big and small expressed views similar to New Zealand's that there needed to be compatibility between the US-India Agreement and the goals of the NSG, and indicated a willingness to engage positively to achieve that outcome."
In the Indian media New Zealand's stance has attracted increasingly hostile coverage and the Hindu newspaper claimed Wellington is trying to stop all Indian nuclear testing before it approves a pact.
India Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar said his nation will not be pushed on the deal.
"The NSG exemption should be clean and there should be no additional condition," Kakodkar said.
"They may want to push, but India can't be pushed. Civil nuclear cooperation is important, but that doesn't mean at any cost...
"Should we allow ourselves to be pushed? Are we not Indians? Are you not proud of yourself and what you are doing?"
Commenting on the Goff statement the Hindustan Times said his clarification relating to the NPT and CTBT was significant, given India's reluctance to sign them, especially the NPT.
It said however the other issues included a periodic review or denial of uranium enrichment and reprocessing technologies remain on the agenda.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invested his political future in a treaty with the US in which Washington will supply India with civilian nuclear fuel and technology. He narrowly survived a confidence vote last month in pushing through the deal on his side.
This is getting interesting now, but chances of deal getting though are getting nill.
NZ denies blocking India's nuclear dream - New Zealand's source for World News on Stuff.co.nz
NZ denies blocking India's nuclear dream
By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media | Wednesday, 27 August 2008
New Zealand has denied it is trying to make India sign key anti-nuclear treaties in the debate over approving an India-US nuclear pact.
In a statement, Disarmament Minister Phil Goff has partially lifted a veil of secrecy around the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) which must approve, by consensus, the nuclear deal between Delhi and Washington. It is known for its secrecy.
New Zealand has been cited as one of six small countries said to oppose the deal. The NSG failed to agree on it last week and will meet again on September 4.
"The discussions last week were robust and constructive and we look forward to continuing this dialogue around a revised draft exemption text at next month's meeting," Mr Goff said.
He has revealed, for the first time, that the NSG has around 50 amendments to the proposed treaty text.
"The key function of the NSG is to formulate guidelines for managing exports of nuclear material, equipment and technology to ensure that this trade does not contribute to nuclear weapons proliferation."
Discussion centred on trying to come up with compatible objectives in the US-India Civil Nuclear Co-operation Agreement.
"While New Zealand remains a strong advocate of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and would welcome India's accession to these treaties, we have not included these elements in our package of proposals," Mr Goff said.
He added New Zealand acknowledged the "potential benefits" in the nuclear pact "while noting concerns and the need for consistency in pursuing the objective of non-proliferation.
"A large number of countries big and small expressed views similar to New Zealand's that there needed to be compatibility between the US-India Agreement and the goals of the NSG, and indicated a willingness to engage positively to achieve that outcome."
In the Indian media New Zealand's stance has attracted increasingly hostile coverage and the Hindu newspaper claimed Wellington is trying to stop all Indian nuclear testing before it approves a pact.
India Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar said his nation will not be pushed on the deal.
"The NSG exemption should be clean and there should be no additional condition," Kakodkar said.
"They may want to push, but India can't be pushed. Civil nuclear cooperation is important, but that doesn't mean at any cost...
"Should we allow ourselves to be pushed? Are we not Indians? Are you not proud of yourself and what you are doing?"
Commenting on the Goff statement the Hindustan Times said his clarification relating to the NPT and CTBT was significant, given India's reluctance to sign them, especially the NPT.
It said however the other issues included a periodic review or denial of uranium enrichment and reprocessing technologies remain on the agenda.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invested his political future in a treaty with the US in which Washington will supply India with civilian nuclear fuel and technology. He narrowly survived a confidence vote last month in pushing through the deal on his side.
This is getting interesting now, but chances of deal getting though are getting nill.