US envoy to discuss nuclear issue in Vienna
US envoy William Burns will discuss the Indo-US deal later this week at the UN nuclear watchdog offices in Vienna.
By Agencies |
WASHINGTON: US envoy William Burns will discuss the US-Indian deal to share non-military nuclear technology later this week at the UN nuclear watchdog offices in Vienna, a State Department spokesman said on Wednesday.
"Friday he's going to have some consultations at the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) related to the India civ-nuke (civilian-nuclear) deal," spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters without elaborating.
Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, will then travel Saturday to Geneva for talks with Iran on a mission to bolster international demands for Tehran to suspend its controversial uranium enrichment program.
In Vienna on Tuesday, the IAEA said its board of governors will meet on August 1 to discuss a draft safeguards agreement with India.
President George W Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unveiled a controversial deal in 2005 to share civilian nuclear technology, which would see India enter the fold of global nuclear commerce after being excluded for decades.
But the deal faces intense domestic opposition in India over fears it could draw the country too close to the United States.
India would brief the watchdog's board of governors on Friday in preparation for the meeting, IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.
Critics have argued the deal undermines the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) because it offers a country which is outside the agreement and which developed atomic bombs in secret and conducted a nuclear test in 1974, access to US nuclear fuel and reactor technology.
Before the deal can go ahead, India must sign a so-called Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA, opening up key civilian nuclear reactors to UN inspections.
In addition, India must obtain a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a group of 45 states that export nuclear fuel and technology whose rules ban trade with non-NPT states.
Finally, the US-India deal must be ratified by the US Congress.
"Friday he's going to have some consultations at the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) related to the India civ-nuke (civilian-nuclear) deal," spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters without elaborating.
Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, will then travel Saturday to Geneva for talks with Iran on a mission to bolster international demands for Tehran to suspend its controversial uranium enrichment program.
In Vienna on Tuesday, the IAEA said its board of governors will meet on August 1 to discuss a draft safeguards agreement with India.
President George W Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unveiled a controversial deal in 2005 to share civilian nuclear technology, which would see India enter the fold of global nuclear commerce after being excluded for decades.
But the deal faces intense domestic opposition in India over fears it could draw the country too close to the United States.
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India would brief the watchdog's board of governors on Friday in preparation for the meeting, IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.
Critics have argued the deal undermines the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) because it offers a country which is outside the agreement and which developed atomic bombs in secret and conducted a nuclear test in 1974, access to US nuclear fuel and reactor technology.
Before the deal can go ahead, India must sign a so-called Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA, opening up key civilian nuclear reactors to UN inspections.
In addition, India must obtain a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a group of 45 states that export nuclear fuel and technology whose rules ban trade with non-NPT states.
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Finally, the US-India deal must be ratified by the US Congress.
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