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Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Tashkent for bilateral talks, sources say the Nuclear Suppliers Group is reconvening in Seoul after the day’s plenary session ends, for a special session at 9 p.m. that may go into the night.
“We may have to burn the midnight oil,” one delegate said, even as other sources confirmed that India’s membership is on the agenda of the NSG session. “Normally, Heads of delegation would have met briefly post dinner to approve the joint press statement that will be issued at the conclusion of the session,” one official said, adding “that they are going to meet to discuss this [India’s membership] is quite unprecedented.”
Although the meeting of the 48-member NSG is a strictly closed-door affair, diplomatic sources from several countries have confirmed their delegation head will attend the session convened by Argentinian Chairperson Rafael Grossi. Both Argentina and host South Korea have been supportive of India’s case for a membership in the past year, and delegates from both countries are understood to have worked on setting up a special formal session on Thursday evening.
Government sources believe China will raise Pakistan's case at the session, but at present India's case is the only one on the agenda.
In a series of statements this week, China has maintained that the issue of non-NPT countries like India applying for membership is not on the agenda in Seoul. But several countries are understood to have raised India’s case during the first day of the two-day plenary on Thursday. Japan is understood to have even “welcomed” India’s application, calling for it to be considered.
Ramping up efforts, the Indian diplomatic team led by Foreign Secretary S.Jaishankar has been meeting delegations from different countries, including Brazil, who have had some reservations about offering support through the day on the sidelines of the plenary in Hotel The Shilla in the hope of ensuring the membership issue is at least taken up on Thursday, or during the second session on Friday.
Diplomats cautioned against any optimism on the basis of the convening of a special session, pointing out that there may be several possible outcomes from the session. The NSG could agree to put off the decision until the next plenary next year, or at a special plenary later this year. In addition, the NSG could agree to China’s demand for a “criteria-based process”, and refer it to a committee that could involve delays as India and Pakistan’s current applications are considered, as well as the possibility of other non-signatories like Israel applying in the future.
India’s chief challenge is China, but also countries like Turkey, Ireland, Austria, and New Zealand that have expressed opposition. In order to be accepted as a member, India must ensure every NSG member is on board, as even one no-vote would scuttle its chances.
The final decision may not be known until Friday, when the NSG is expected to issue a statement on the plenary.
Meanwhile all eyes, including those of many in Seoul, are on the outcome of Mr. Modi's meeting with President Xi in Tashkent.
Besides Mr. Jaishankar, an expert in nuclear issues himself and who has served in high profile positions in Indian missions in the US, China, Russia and Japan (key countries in the NSG), the Indian team includes its top official on nuclear issues Amandeep Singh Gill, who has negotiated the details of India’s civil nuclear agreements and MoUs with countries including Canada, US, Australia and Japan in the past few years. Also in Seoul is India’s Ambassador to South Korea Vikram Doraiswami, who has served in the PMO’s of both Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, and handled the America desk during the crucial phases of the India-U.S. civil nuclear engagement.
US, UK, France proclaim support
In the past few days, countries like the U.S., the U.K. and France have made public proclamations of support to India’s bid, calling on oth
http://m.thehindu.com/news/national...ves-through-48member-group/article8764078.ece
“We may have to burn the midnight oil,” one delegate said, even as other sources confirmed that India’s membership is on the agenda of the NSG session. “Normally, Heads of delegation would have met briefly post dinner to approve the joint press statement that will be issued at the conclusion of the session,” one official said, adding “that they are going to meet to discuss this [India’s membership] is quite unprecedented.”
Although the meeting of the 48-member NSG is a strictly closed-door affair, diplomatic sources from several countries have confirmed their delegation head will attend the session convened by Argentinian Chairperson Rafael Grossi. Both Argentina and host South Korea have been supportive of India’s case for a membership in the past year, and delegates from both countries are understood to have worked on setting up a special formal session on Thursday evening.
Government sources believe China will raise Pakistan's case at the session, but at present India's case is the only one on the agenda.
In a series of statements this week, China has maintained that the issue of non-NPT countries like India applying for membership is not on the agenda in Seoul. But several countries are understood to have raised India’s case during the first day of the two-day plenary on Thursday. Japan is understood to have even “welcomed” India’s application, calling for it to be considered.
Ramping up efforts, the Indian diplomatic team led by Foreign Secretary S.Jaishankar has been meeting delegations from different countries, including Brazil, who have had some reservations about offering support through the day on the sidelines of the plenary in Hotel The Shilla in the hope of ensuring the membership issue is at least taken up on Thursday, or during the second session on Friday.
Diplomats cautioned against any optimism on the basis of the convening of a special session, pointing out that there may be several possible outcomes from the session. The NSG could agree to put off the decision until the next plenary next year, or at a special plenary later this year. In addition, the NSG could agree to China’s demand for a “criteria-based process”, and refer it to a committee that could involve delays as India and Pakistan’s current applications are considered, as well as the possibility of other non-signatories like Israel applying in the future.
India’s chief challenge is China, but also countries like Turkey, Ireland, Austria, and New Zealand that have expressed opposition. In order to be accepted as a member, India must ensure every NSG member is on board, as even one no-vote would scuttle its chances.
The final decision may not be known until Friday, when the NSG is expected to issue a statement on the plenary.
Meanwhile all eyes, including those of many in Seoul, are on the outcome of Mr. Modi's meeting with President Xi in Tashkent.
Besides Mr. Jaishankar, an expert in nuclear issues himself and who has served in high profile positions in Indian missions in the US, China, Russia and Japan (key countries in the NSG), the Indian team includes its top official on nuclear issues Amandeep Singh Gill, who has negotiated the details of India’s civil nuclear agreements and MoUs with countries including Canada, US, Australia and Japan in the past few years. Also in Seoul is India’s Ambassador to South Korea Vikram Doraiswami, who has served in the PMO’s of both Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, and handled the America desk during the crucial phases of the India-U.S. civil nuclear engagement.
US, UK, France proclaim support
In the past few days, countries like the U.S., the U.K. and France have made public proclamations of support to India’s bid, calling on oth
http://m.thehindu.com/news/national...ves-through-48member-group/article8764078.ece
