Finland to support India's integration with civil N-commerce

Helsinki: Finland, a key member of Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG), has promised to support India's integration with international civil nuclear commerce once New Delhi and Washington operationalise their bilateral deal on nuclear cooperation.

"We are closely watching the developments in the negotiations between India and US on the 123 agreement for the civilian nuclear cooperation and would take a decision once something positive comes out of it," Deputy Director of Finnish External Affairs Ministry Finland Rauli Suikkanen told Indian journalists.

Some of the issues relating to the civil nuclear cooperation will be discussed at the 45-nation NSG meeting in Cape Town beginning on April 19, he said.

The 27-member European Union, including Finland, is keen to explore the possibilities of cooperation in civilian nuclear energy with India and expected to extend an economic assistance of 470 million Euros for the next five years, of which one-third will be directed to joint action plans in the fields of energy and telecommunication.

Suikkanen said Finland has noted the statement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin recently on possible supply of a few more nuclear reactors to India and "we hope as an NSG country we will be able to decide to support India in a big way as we are coming in closer cooperation with India as is evident in several bilateral meetings between the leaders of both the countries".