Front Page

India begins talks with IAEA on nuclear deal

— PHOTO: AFP

Crucial parleys: Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar (right) with IAEA Director-General Mohammad ElBaradei (left) and others in Vienna on Wednesday.

Vienna: India on Wednesday began the process of negotiating a country-specific safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after the Left parties gave the clearance to the government to go ahead with talks with the agency.

Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar, arriving here in the morning, held discussions with IAEA Director-General Mohammad ElBaradei.

It was decided to initiate consultations on India-specific safeguards, which will pave the way for international civilian nuclear cooperation, the IAEA said in a statement.

An Indian team will have meetings this week with the IAEA secretariat to work on a safeguards agreement, it said.

After months of standoff over the civilian nuclear deal with the United States, the Left parties last week allowed the government to go ahead with negotiations with the IAEA on the condition that it will not initial any accord but bring back the draft to the United Progressive Alliance-Left committee on the nuclear deal.

Mr. Kakodkar said all aspects of the safeguards related to India would figure in the discussions with the IAEA but refused to comment anything after the parleys.

He was assisted by Sheel Kant Sharma, Indian Governor in the IAEA, Ravi B Grover, Director, Strategic Planning Group, Department of Atomic Energy, and an official from the External Affairs Ministry. — PTI

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu