Crucial NSG meet tomorrow, a major hurdle for nuke deal

VIENNA: India was tonight in the midst of last minute lobbying to cross a major hurdle to push the Indo-US nuclear deal forward with the crucial Nuclear Suppliers Group(NSG) meeting here tomorrow to consider allowing atomic commerce.

With countries like Austria, New Zealand and Ireland still voicing reservations over granting NSG waiver to non-NPT countries like India, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon prepared to brief the current chair Germany and two other key members of the 45-nation nuclear cartel on the eve of its extra-ordinary two-day plenary meeting.

Menon, who arrived here today heading a delegation that includes Ravi Grover, Director, Strategic Development of the Department of Atomic Energy, will meet the representatives of the 'Troika' - Germany, South Africa and Hungary. A NSG waiver is a must to operationalise the nuke deal.

The meeting with the Troika was mooted by Germany to facilitate India address any apprehensions about issues relating to India's nuclear programme. New Delhi maintains it has an impecabble non-proliferation record.

Irelend has said that over over the past three years since the deal was mooted it has taken the lead in raising questions and expressing serious concerns, particularly about its effects on the international non-proliferation regime.

Some members notably New Zealand reportedly have reservations on the draft exemption note circulated by the US and are pressing for at least three conditions before the nuke cartel gives its green light. The conditions reportedly relate to provisions for periodic review, future testing and transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies.

On the positive side, countries like France have thrown its weight behind India strengthening the diplomatic overdrive by New Delhi and Washington to get NSG approval.