US vows to push through NSG process 'expeditiously'

US vows to push through NSG process 'expeditiously'

Agencies
Posted online: Sunday , August 03, 2008 at 02:36:39

Colombo, August 3: Buoyed by the IAEA's approval of the India-specific safeguards pact, the US vowed to push through ‘expeditiously’ the NSG process but said New Delhi would have to answer ‘a lot of questions’ to secure a waiver from the 45-nation bloc when it meets later this month.
Describing the IAEA decision as a ‘major step’, US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told reporters here that "now the next step is the NSG."

The 35-member IAEA Board of Governors gave its nod to the India-specific safeguards agreement, a key step to operationalise the Indo-US nuclear deal, on Friday while the NSG members are expected to meet in Vienna on August 21 to discuss the matter.

"If we could do that (NSG process) expeditiously we can deliver the package to the US Congress in September. We have a lot to to in short term. We hope we can bring it to fruition," Boucher said.

"Well by the time we get to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, we hope no country will object. It is simply a process we have been working on with countries who had questions and are getting those questions answered," said Boucher, who is in the Sri Lankan capital as an observer to the regional SAARC summit.