India initiates process for nuclear safeguards pact with IAEA

Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar today initiated the process of talks with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohammad ElBaradei on India-specific safeguards agreement related to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.

Vienna, Nov 21 : Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar today initiated the process of talks with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohammad ElBaradei on India-specific safeguards agreement related to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.

Kakodkar held discussions over nearly an hour with ElBaradei, where it was decided to initiate talks on the India-specific safeguards, which will pave the way for international civilian nuclear cooperation, an IAEA statement said.

Kakodkar arrived in Vienna this morning.

A team from India will hold meetings with the IAEA secretariat here this week to work on the safeguards agreement.

The meeting came a day ahead of the IAEA's 35-member Board of Governors meeting.

Besides Kakodkar, the Indian team, which is holding talks with the IAEA, includes Indian Governor in IAEA Sheel Kant Sharma, Department of Atomic Energy's Strategic Planning Group Director Ravi B Grover, and an official from the External Affairs Ministry.

Last week, the Left parties gave the green signal to the government to approach the IAEA for holding talks on an India-specific safeguards agreement related to the 2005 US-India civil nuclear pact, bringing an end to the months of the UPA-Left standoff over the deal.

However, the Left asked the Government not to initiate any accord, but bring back the draft of the safeguards agreement to the UPA-Left Committee.

The Indo-US nuke-deal faces an informal US deadline related to securing approval of America's Congress well before the next year presidential polls.

Three more steps are required to operationalise the deal that include, safeguard agreement with the IAEA, amendment in the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group's charter and the passing of the 123-agreement by the US Congress.

ANI