Arms control body asks NSG to reject revised nuke deal draft

Just two days ahead of the second meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in Vienna, a US-based Arms Control Association has asked the 45-member Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) to reject the revised draft, which exempts India from its certain guidelines for nuclear trade, as it does not contain any meaningful adjustments.

Washington, Sep 2 : Just two days ahead of the second meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in Vienna, a US-based Arms Control Association has asked the 45-member Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) to reject the revised draft, which exempts India from its certain guidelines for nuclear trade, as it does not contain any meaningful adjustments.

Daryl Kimball, Executive Director of the organization, said: "The revised proposal does not incorporate any meaningful adjustments or concessions and is essentially the same as the earlier draft proposal."

Meanwhile on Monday, the US said it is working hard and with positive approach to secure a waiver for India from the NSG.

This statement came from US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher after his meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma here.

Earlier on Sunday, US had submitted a fresh draft waiver proposal for the consideration of the NSG. The proposal was sent in five days ahead of the crucial meeting on Thursday giving the member states ample time to study the proposal.

New Zealand and Austria are said to be among the NSG members who are still dissatisfied with the draft, suggesting that amendments carried out not as per their demands.

The Centre is clear that if conditions are attached to the waiver, India will not accept it. The conditions particularly unacceptable to India are with regard to nuclear testing, denial of enrichment and reprocessing right and periodic review.

The 45-nation meeting on whether to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India ended inconclusively last week after some members wanted to attach conditions.

According to diplomats, 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.

The NSG countries will meet on September 4-5, when the United States is expected to rework the draft for a waiver breaking the nuclear trade embargo.

The deal would allow India access to nuclear technology and fuel, overturning a three-decade ban on trade after India tested nuclear weapons in 1974.

Time is running out on the bilateral deal which still has to reach the U.S. Congress for ratification by early September at the latest before the house breaks for the November U.S. presidential elections.

ANI