W O R L D

Bills to facilitate N-trade with India
in the offing
The chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee today planned to introduce bills in the US Congress aimed at amending the Atomic Energy Act and facilitating nuclear trade with India. Last week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had submitted some “ideas” to members of the Congress on legislation to amend US laws.

US has reservations on Russian fuel for India
Washington, March 16
The USA has expressed reservations over the proposed Russian supply of nuclear fuel to India indicating that any such move should await compliance by India of its obligations under the civilian nuclear technology agreement between the two countries. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli yesterday declined to speculate on the issue pertaining to the possible impact of the Russian offer on the India-US nuclear deal.

N-fuel supply not violation of rules: Russia
Moscow, March 16
Brushing aside US reservations, Russia today said its proposed supply of nuclear fuel to India for the Tarapur reactor was not in violation of Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines.

Australia not to sell N-fuel to India: Downer
Sydney, March 16
India has failed to persuade Australia to supply it with nuclear fuel as Foreign Minister Alexander Downer today made it clear that Canberra’s policy of not supplying uranium to those not signatories to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty would not be changed.

India’s talks with Iran, Pak end without pipeline deal
Teheran, March 16
Talks between India, Iran and Pakistan on building a new gas pipeline ended today without any agreement and a new round of negotiations is scheduled for late April.

South Korean farmers and activists scuffle with riot policemen during a rally against the expansion of a US base at their village in Pyongtaek, about 80 km south of Seoul, on Thursday. — Reuters

Bills to facilitate N-trade with India in the offing
Ashish Kumar Sen writes from Washington

The chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee today planned to introduce bills in the US Congress aimed at amending the Atomic Energy Act and facilitating nuclear trade with India.

Last week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had submitted some “ideas” to members of the Congress on legislation to amend US laws.

Diplomatic sources said the bills, to be introduced by Senator Richard Lugar and Congressman Henry Hyde, would be based on the Bush administration’s draft proposal.

Under-Secretary of State R. Nicholas Burns was scheduled to brief journalists at the State Department on the Bush administration’s plan to push the nuclear deal in Congress.

Mr Burns, who played a key role in negotiating the deal with Indians, noted that it was now up to the congressional leadership on how they wanted to go forward.

“We respect the separation of powers”, he said, referring to the distinctions between the executive and legislative branches in the US system of governance.

The Bush administration suggested an “India-specific waiver” of amendments to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, that currently barred trade in nuclear technology and dual-use technology with countries that did not accept full-scope safeguards on its nuclear facilities.

The bills would be introduced in the Congress on the eve of a recess for the Irish holiday of St. Patrick’s Day.

Mr Burns was hopeful that hearings and a vote on the bills would be completed by May, at which time the administration hoped to approach the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group with a request to allow nuclear trade with India.

US has reservations on Russian fuel for India

Washington, March 16
The USA has expressed reservations over the proposed Russian supply of nuclear fuel to India indicating that any such move should await compliance by India of its obligations under the civilian nuclear technology agreement between the two countries.

State Department spokesman Adam Ereli yesterday declined to speculate on the issue pertaining to the possible impact of the Russian offer on the India-US nuclear deal.

He, however, said the USA recognised India’s pressing need for nuclear fuel, adding it’s committed to secure a regular supply of fuel for India through the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

‘‘The joint initiative and the legislation (to implement it) are designed to provide fuel supply in that way, consistent with Indian commitments to undertake steps to bring it into compliance with IAEA safeguards. And it’s important that they do so as part of an effort to get nuclear fuel. It’s all part of a broad and connected process,’’ he added.

Under the US-India nuclear deal, which reverses three decades of US policy, India will get access to nuclear technology in return for opening up its civilian nuclear facilities to international inspections. To facilitate this India has already submitted a separation plan designating 14 out of 22 of its reactors as civilian and kept aside the remaining eight for military purposes.

But the deal was yet to be ratified by the US Congress and the 45-member NSG, of which Russia is a member.

The NSG controls trade in atomic fuel, which has been denied to India after it conducted nuclear tests in Pokhran and refused to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Russia, which is a member of NSG cannot supply fuel to countries like India which have not signed the NPT. — UNI

N-fuel supply not violation of rules: Russia
Vinay Shukla

Moscow, March 16
Brushing aside US reservations, Russia today said its proposed supply of nuclear fuel to India for the Tarapur reactor was not in violation of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines.

“The supply of nuclear fuel to India for Tarapur atomic power station is not a violation of NSG guidelines as it is being done under the safety exception clause to ensure safe operation of the reactor,” the state-controlled Voice of Russia radio quoted an unnamed official of the Rosatom Federal Atomic Energy Agency as saying.

Another state-run media RIA Novosti said under the contract, Russia was supplying low-enriched uranium pallets for Tarapur and natural uranium fuel for atomic power station in 
Rajasthan.

“Both deliveries would be made under IAEA safeguards,” the news agency said.

The US yesterday expressed reservations on Russia’s move to supply fuel for Tarapur nuclear reactor, saying any such step should be taken after India fulfilled its obligations under the historic Indo-US nuclear deal.

But India said Moscow’s supply of uranium breached no international rules. “There is no violation of NSG guidelines and Russia has approached the NSG under the safety exception clause,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement yesterday. — PTI

Australia not to sell N-fuel to India: Downer

Sydney, March 16
India has failed to persuade Australia to supply it with nuclear fuel as Foreign Minister Alexander Downer today made it clear that Canberra’s policy of not supplying uranium to those not signatories to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty would not be changed.

‘‘We do not have any plans to change our policy,’’ he said here at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who stated that it was up to Australia to decide whether to supply uranium to India and that it was an issue that the USA should not be involved in.

During his recent visit to India, Australian Prime Minister John Howard had indicated softening of stand as the two countries decided to set up a group of officials to study the Indo-US Civil nuclear deal. Australia which is the second largest uranium producer after Canada.

Mr Howard had said Australia viewed the Indo-US nuclear deal positively and wanted to know more details of the agreement.

‘‘I appreciate that the Australian government... has said they think the deal itself is a good deal,’’ Rice said.

Noting that the USA wanted a deep relationship with a rising democracy like India, Rice said the Indo-US nuclear deal would strengthen global security. ‘‘India is a rising power in Asia... and we need a broad and deep relationship with this rising democracy.’’ Supporting the Indo-US nuclear deal, Downer said Australia ‘‘agrees with the broader arguments about the growing importance of India.’’ However, he said the country had ‘‘legal issues’’ pertaining to selling uranium to India.

Mr Downer said it would have been better if India had signed the NPT but ‘‘that is a dream, that is not going to happen any time soon, if ever.’’ On receiving the nod from the Congress, Rice said USA would share its nuclear know-how and fuel with India to help power its fast-growing economy. — PTI

India’s talks with Iran, Pak end without pipeline deal

Teheran, March 16
Talks between India, Iran and Pakistan on building a new gas pipeline ended today without any agreement and a new round of negotiations is scheduled for late April.

“Iran made a proposal on the price (of gas) that we must examine,” India’s Petroleum Secretary M.S. Srinivasan told reporters in televised remarks.

Iran’s state news agency confirmed Teheran had proposed a price for gas, but India and Pakistan said they needed time for consultations.

The next round of talks are scheduled for Islamabad on April 30, state television reported.

The sides had hoped to settle on the framework for the project that would see Iranian gas travel by pipeline through Pakistan to India. They are yet to sign a memorandum to set the long-stalled project in motion. — AFP