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7th September, 2008
VIENNA: US negotiators struggled Saturday to salvage a plan to allow Washington to sell India nuclear material and technology for civilian use after several opposing nations have blocked the deal, delegates said.
The 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group planned to meet one last time in Vienna in hopes of overcoming concerns voiced by Austria, Ireland and New Zealand, which want to make sure India faces stern consequences if it resumes nuclear testing.
India has tested atomic weapons and refused to sign international nonproliferation treaties.
Delegates spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss proceedings at the closed meeting.
The nuclear group governs the legal trade in nuclear components and technology. The Bush administration has been racing to get approval from the group and US Congress before lawmakers recess for the rest of the year to devote time to their re-election campaigns.
US officials contend that selling peaceful nuclear technology to India would bring the country’s atomic program under closer scrutiny and boost—not undermine—international nonproliferation efforts.
Adding intrigue to the Vienna talks was a secret Bush administration letter released this week by congressman Howard Berman, which said Washington has the right to immediately halt nuclear trade with India if it were to conduct an atomic test blast.
India had insisted that nothing in the plan would ban it from future tests, and the letter threatened to undermine the Indian government’s position at home.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has already approved the proposed US nuclear trade deal, and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Friday that New Delhi would push to sign side agreements with the UN nuclear watchdog that would give the agency broader powers to inspect its atomic facilities.
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