Nations can't agree India nuclear pact, set Sept talks

I/II.
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnLM19822.html

Nations can't agree India nuclear pact, set Sept talks
Fri 22 Aug 2008, 15:29 GMT

By Mark Heinrich

VIENNA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - A 45-nation meeting on whether to lift a ban on
nuclear trade with India ended inconclusively on Friday after many raised
conditions for the move, leaving the future of a controversial U.S.-Indian
nuclear deal unclear.

The countries in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) will meet again on Sept.
4-5 to try to resolve the matter, diplomats said.

The group must agree to allow nuclear fuel and technology exports to India
for its civilian atomic energy programme to help seal the 2005 U.S.-Indian
agreement.

The bilateral deal has disturbed pro-disarmament nations and campaigners
since India is outside the global Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and
developed nuclear bombs in the 1970s with Western technology imported
ostensibly for civilian ends.

Washington and some allies assert that it will shift India, the world's
largest democracy, towards the non-proliferation treaty and will combat
global warming by fostering use of low-polluting nuclear energy in
developing economies.

But to the apparent surprise of Washington at the two-day meeting, almost
half the suppliers' group membership proposed amendments to a U.S. draft for
a waiver which would allow India to do business with the cartel, diplomats
said.

Many felt India's access to "dual use" nuclear fuel and equipment could
weaken the treaty unless the waiver text was firmed up to protect NPT
principles and avoid indirectly benefiting New Delhi's nuclear weapons
programme.

"There were really masses of amendments and suggestions absorbed at this
meeting. Many of the delegations said the same thing in different words,"
said one senior diplomat.

On Friday, group members discussed conditions further but, far from reaching
consensus required for a decision, agreed to hold a follow-up meeting on
Sept. 4-5, participants said.

REVISED U.S. DRAFT

The United States was expected to rework the draft taking account of their
concerns and reintroduce it at the next session, according to diplomats at
the Vienna meeting.

John Rood, the U.S. acting undersecretary of state for arms control and
international security, said participants would work to resolve the
concerns. "I remain very optimistic we will continue to make progress toward
this important goal," he said.

Diplomats said the Bush administration pressed NSG members to approve an
exemption this week to gain time for final ratification of the deal by the
U.S. Congress before it adjourns later next month for November elections.

But critics said it would be dangerous to rush a decision.

"Key NSG states have rightly insisted on restrictions and conditions on
nuclear trade with India to reduce the risk that (this) will assist its
nuclear bomb programme and hold India accountable to its political
commitment not to resume testing," said Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control
Association think-tank.

"... This sensitive issue will profoundly affect global nuclear
nonproliferation efforts for decades to come." Diplomats said major
conditions tabled at the NSG included intrusive U.N. inspections of Indian
civilian nuclear sites; cancellation of any waiver if India tests bombs
again; and periodic reviews of Indian compliance with the exemption.

"These are all discussable amendments (for the U.S.)," said the senior
diplomat. Whether India will accept them is unclear.

New Delhi, sensitive to domestic leftist charges that closer ties with the
United States will undo its strategic autonomy, has insisted on a "clean and
unconditional" waiver from the NSG.

II.
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Nuclear exporters need another meeting on India trade graf 4, diplomat's
comment in graf 10 (2nd Roundup)
South Asia News

Aug 22, 2008, 16:21 GMT

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Vienna - Nuclear-exporting countries did not achieve a consensus on allowing
trade with India during a meeting that ended Friday in Vienna and will meet
again in early September for a new round of talks, diplomats said.

The decision by the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was delayed as
20 member countries want to put a number of amendments to the United States'
proposal for a trade exemption and there is pressure on the US to introduce
changes to its draft.

'Participating governments exchanged views in a constructive manner and
agreed to meet again in the near future to continue their deliberations,'
the NSG, which sets international export control standards, said in a short
statement.

Participants at the meeting said the next meeting would be held on September
4 and 5, most likely in Vienna.

According to participants of the meeting, members are calling for several
provisions in the trade exemption, including halting India's status as a
recipient nation, or putting it under review, if India tested another atom
bomb.

India has so far been insisting on what its officials call 'a clean
exemption.'

'There is no question of India accepting any conditions or any new provision
in the draft,' Indian sources were quoted by Indian news agency IANS as
saying earlier Friday from Vienna.

But the US indicated there might be amendments to its draft.

'There may be changes in the text. But we will not allow any changes that
will impede the process or block cooperation,' US Assistant Secretary of
State Richard Boucher was quoted as saying in an interview with Indian
broadcaster NDTV in Mumbai.

It was now up to the US to take the conditions proposed by other NSG members
and come up with a new draft, a diplomat said.

Green-lighting exports for India's growing nuclear power programme is part
of Washington's 2005 nuclear deal with New Delhi, which the US
administration wants Congress to ratify before the presidential elections.

Under this deal, India has already agreed to a number of measures, such as
separating its nuclear bomb programme from its energy sector, and allowing
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect civilian reactors.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group was formed in reaction to an Indian bomb test in
1974, which it had built using imported reactor technology.

The US and other NSG members have to decide on a trade waiver before
exporting to India because current rules prevent them from supplying
countries that have not signed the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty.

Countries including Austria, Ireland, Switzerland and Norway are among the
NSG members that are active in pushing for stricter conditions before
green-lighting exports of nuclear material and technology to India.