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Kakodkar holds talks with ElBaradei

Vienna: Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar met International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei and discussed the indigenous civil nuclear programme but there was no reference to the India-United States nuclear deal.

Dr. Kakodkar hosted a lunch for Mr. ElBaradei and chiefs of atomic energy commissions of some countries on the sidelines of the IAEA’s 51st general conference.

“We talked about India’s partnership in several programmes of the IAEA, especially on the Innovative Nuclear Cycle Programme, which has immense potential to lead to a global enhancement in the availability of safe and economical nuclear energy,” Dr. Kakodkar told PTI here on Thursday.

Asked whether the India-specific safeguards agreement came up for discussions, he said: “Such topics are not discussed over lunch.”

On the political controversy surrounding the nuclear deal back home, he said: “I did not discuss politics.”

Dr. Kakodkar said he told Mr. ElBaradei that it was “extremely important” to have equal partnership in development of new kind of reactors, which were proliferation-resistant.

Washington had convened a special meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to brief them about the nuclear deal with India.

Asked what India would do if the NSG countries did not agree on change in its guidelines to allow international trade with New Delhi, Dr. Kakodkar said:“We have our own programme. It will continue.”

Mr. ElBaradei’s office said India had not approached the IAEA for talks on the safeguards agreement. — PTI

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