Stephen Smith rules out selling Australian uranium to Pakistan
THE Gillard government has assured India that Australian uranium won't be sold to neighbouring Pakistan.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith gave the undertaking during a meeting with Indian government officials in New Delhi today.
Pakistan does not have the same record so far as proliferation is concerned, he told ABC 24.
Mr Smith is paving the way for negotiations on a uranium export deal next year after the ALP's decision last weekend to allow uranium sales to the India.
Earlier this week, Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia Abdul Malik Abdullah said the same concession should be made for Pakistan, which like India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
If Australia is going to lift the ban on a country which has not signed NPT it is much hope that will also apply to Pakistan the same way, he said.
Mr Smith said he had assured Indian officials the new export policy did not extend to Pakistan.
Pakistan had not voluntarily placed itself under the authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Nuclear Suppliers Group, he said.
New Delhi will have to agree to a range of safeguards before.
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THE Gillard government has assured India that Australian uranium won't be sold to neighbouring Pakistan.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith gave the undertaking during a meeting with Indian government officials in New Delhi today.
Pakistan does not have the same record so far as proliferation is concerned, he told ABC 24.
Mr Smith is paving the way for negotiations on a uranium export deal next year after the ALP's decision last weekend to allow uranium sales to the India.
Earlier this week, Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia Abdul Malik Abdullah said the same concession should be made for Pakistan, which like India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
If Australia is going to lift the ban on a country which has not signed NPT it is much hope that will also apply to Pakistan the same way, he said.
Mr Smith said he had assured Indian officials the new export policy did not extend to Pakistan.
Pakistan had not voluntarily placed itself under the authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Nuclear Suppliers Group, he said.
New Delhi will have to agree to a range of safeguards before.
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