Australia's NPT stand not aimed at India, says Gillard

NEW DELHI: Australia today made it clear that its long-stated stand of selling Uranium to only Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) signatories was "not aimed" at India.

"I can assure that Australia's NPT stand is not aimed at India," Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said here at a press conference as part of her five-day visit to New Delhi and Chennai.

"It is our long-stated stand that Australia will sell Uranium only to countries that are signatories to the NPT. I assure you it is not aimed at India, which has a good non-proliferation record," Gillard said to queries from reporters.

However, she did not elaborate if her country would change its stand anytime in the near future or when NPT comes up for a review sometime next year.

India is not a signatory to the NPT, but has last year won a waiver from the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group, which include Australia, to participate in global nuclear trade.