India today expressed hope that the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) will honour their commitment on civil nuclear cooperation with India. Referring to the recent decision of the NSG, the External affairs Minister S M Krishna in a statement in the Lok Sabha said that these commitments have to reflect the statement of the nuclear club made in 2008 and bi-lateral cooperation agreements reached with different countries. The Group pledged to supply urnanium and latest technology for enrichment and reprocessing of nuclear fuel in 2008. The minister said that India is not a party to this decision as it is not a member of the NSG. He said New Delhi is engaged in discussions with foreign companies to expand its nuclear energy programme to meet its development needs and expressed hope that India's international partners will honour their commitments in this regard. He said India is committed to full international civil nuclear cooperation and is poised to emerge as one of the major nuclear country in the world. Mr Krishna said the international nuclear order will continue to evolve in India's favour. The external affairs minister assured the members that India will not accept pre conditions for transfer of enrichment and reprocessing items and technology. He also ruled out the possibility of joining the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapon state. The external affairs Minister elaborated that India has full mastery of the entire nuclear fuel cycle, including enrichment and reprocessing technology. Mr Krishna said India is among the handful of countries that has developed fast breeder technology and access to enrichment and reprocessing technology from outside is only an addition to accelerate the country's three stage Civil Nuclear programme. AIR correspondent reports that the nuclear club decided that it will supply enrichment and reprocessing technology only to the States that have signed the NPT and India has reputedly refused to sign this treaty, describing it discriminatory.
News On AIR | August 10, 2011 2:11 PM
India not to accept pre conditions for transfer of enrichment and reprocessing items and technology: Krishna