MUMBAI: A key negotiator of the Indo-US nuclear deal, former atomic energy commission chief Anil Kakodkar, did not mince words on Monday in saying" more hurdles were coming in our way" in the form of the latest guidelines proposed by the nuclear suppliers group (NSG).
The NSG's move to restrict export of enrichment and reprocessing technology (ERT) to countries that have not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) will negate a considerable part of the waiver granted to India as a result of the Indo-US deal." Instead of moving forward, we are moving backward," Kakodkar said.
Kakodkar's remark assumes significance in the context of the 46-member NSG plan to restrict transfer of ENR technologies, seen as an unscripted move that will disadvantage India. This has upset Kakodkar and other nuclear scientists because in September 2008, India was granted an unprecedented exemption with the help of the US, opening the door to international nuclear commerce.
"This new rule is being contemplated at a time when India is planning to become a member of the NSG," Kakodkar said. Asked if it was an indirect effort by US, Russia, France and some of NSG members to make India sign the NPT, Kakodkar replied,".... we have to protect our interests."
The doublespeak sits uneasily with assurances like those offered by the outgoing US ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer who said,"I want to say that US and the Obama administration strongly and vehemently support the clean waiver for India."
Although the new NSG rule does not at least for now cover sale of foreign reactors to India, on Sunday foreign secretary Nirupama Rao hinted India may not buy nuclear reactors from countries that refuse to sell ENR technologies. "We will defend our interests to the hilt," she told a TV channel.
"We are pursuing our thorium programme and one of its main advantages was that it was proliferation-resistant. This should encourage countries to collaborate with us. But, instead more hurdles are coming our way," Kakodkar regretted.
In a recent book, "The Age of Deception: Nuclear Diplomacy in Treacherous Times," former director general of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei has written, "I viewed the agreement (nuke deal) as a win-win situation, good for development and good for arms control. It would provide India with access to Western nuclear energy technology and safety insights an important consideration given India's ambitious indigenous nuclear energy programme."
"Also, although the deal would not bring India into the NPT, it would draw the country closer to the nuclear non proliferation regime through acceptance of IAEA safeguards on its civilian facilities and a commitment to adhere to the export guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group," El Baradei wrote.
M R Srinivasan, a member and former chairman of AEC, believes the issue has been building up for a while. "The agreement with the NSG also included the transfer of ENR technology. Key members of this group the US, Russia and France assured that they would stand by this decision and we also made it clear that we won't sign the NPT," he said.
"Our negotiations went on for three years and now the agreement should not be eroded. In return for a clean waiver by the NSG for allowing India to participate global nuclear trade, we agreed to place some of our civilian nuclear installations for international inspection," he added.
He explained though India's has its own enrichment and reprocessing facilities, it did not mean it should not obtain such technology from abroad since it will be importing nuclear fuel and embarking on an expansion programme.
"The NSG has the right to change norms. I think the US was under pressure from some of the smaller members of the group to lay down additional conditions for transferring ENR technology," said P K Iyengar, another ex-chairman of AEC.
According to him, some of these NSG members must have felt that if India can be accorded preferential treatment, then what's wrong with Israel, Pakistan and North Korea?" These additional conditions are an indirect way of forcing India to sign the NPT," he said. Added Iyengar,"The Indo-US nuke deal was a non-starter from the beginning, and this is proving right."
Now India is learning what a good mate the US can be lol
The NSG's move to restrict export of enrichment and reprocessing technology (ERT) to countries that have not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) will negate a considerable part of the waiver granted to India as a result of the Indo-US deal." Instead of moving forward, we are moving backward," Kakodkar said.
Kakodkar's remark assumes significance in the context of the 46-member NSG plan to restrict transfer of ENR technologies, seen as an unscripted move that will disadvantage India. This has upset Kakodkar and other nuclear scientists because in September 2008, India was granted an unprecedented exemption with the help of the US, opening the door to international nuclear commerce.
"This new rule is being contemplated at a time when India is planning to become a member of the NSG," Kakodkar said. Asked if it was an indirect effort by US, Russia, France and some of NSG members to make India sign the NPT, Kakodkar replied,".... we have to protect our interests."
The doublespeak sits uneasily with assurances like those offered by the outgoing US ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer who said,"I want to say that US and the Obama administration strongly and vehemently support the clean waiver for India."
Although the new NSG rule does not at least for now cover sale of foreign reactors to India, on Sunday foreign secretary Nirupama Rao hinted India may not buy nuclear reactors from countries that refuse to sell ENR technologies. "We will defend our interests to the hilt," she told a TV channel.
"We are pursuing our thorium programme and one of its main advantages was that it was proliferation-resistant. This should encourage countries to collaborate with us. But, instead more hurdles are coming our way," Kakodkar regretted.
In a recent book, "The Age of Deception: Nuclear Diplomacy in Treacherous Times," former director general of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei has written, "I viewed the agreement (nuke deal) as a win-win situation, good for development and good for arms control. It would provide India with access to Western nuclear energy technology and safety insights an important consideration given India's ambitious indigenous nuclear energy programme."
"Also, although the deal would not bring India into the NPT, it would draw the country closer to the nuclear non proliferation regime through acceptance of IAEA safeguards on its civilian facilities and a commitment to adhere to the export guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group," El Baradei wrote.
M R Srinivasan, a member and former chairman of AEC, believes the issue has been building up for a while. "The agreement with the NSG also included the transfer of ENR technology. Key members of this group the US, Russia and France assured that they would stand by this decision and we also made it clear that we won't sign the NPT," he said.
"Our negotiations went on for three years and now the agreement should not be eroded. In return for a clean waiver by the NSG for allowing India to participate global nuclear trade, we agreed to place some of our civilian nuclear installations for international inspection," he added.
He explained though India's has its own enrichment and reprocessing facilities, it did not mean it should not obtain such technology from abroad since it will be importing nuclear fuel and embarking on an expansion programme.
"The NSG has the right to change norms. I think the US was under pressure from some of the smaller members of the group to lay down additional conditions for transferring ENR technology," said P K Iyengar, another ex-chairman of AEC.
According to him, some of these NSG members must have felt that if India can be accorded preferential treatment, then what's wrong with Israel, Pakistan and North Korea?" These additional conditions are an indirect way of forcing India to sign the NPT," he said. Added Iyengar,"The Indo-US nuke deal was a non-starter from the beginning, and this is proving right."
Now India is learning what a good mate the US can be lol
