Switzerland unlikely to block waiver for India at NSG

NEW DELHI: Despite its strong views on non-proliferation issues, Switzerland is unlikely to block the waiver for India at the NSG meet even as it officially says it is yet to firm up its stand on the matter.

Switzerland's Ambassador to India Dominique Dreyer today said his government understands the "importance of the nuclear energy" for India's economic growth but has not yet decided its position for a NSG waiver to New Delhi.

"Government of Switzerland is very much in favour of India developing nuclear energy but Switzerland is also concerned about problem of non-proliferation," he said. Switzerland along with New Zealand, Austria, Ireland and are seen as the difficult countries at the NSG as all the four countries insist that such an exemption should not be given to a country which is not a member of the NPT.

The stand of the Switzerland will be crucial at the August 21-22 meeting of NSG which works by consensus and opposition by even one country could hamper India's prospects of having trade with international community in nuclear field. Notwithstanding the Swiss reservations, sources said the country is unlikely to pose problems for India at the upcoming meeting of the 45-nation grouping.