India-specific N-guards soon

NEW DELHI: Foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said on Friday that the India-specific safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be wrapped up in the next round of discussions slated for middle of this month in Vienna.

Menon’s clarification came after reports that the safety talks had hit a roadblock and could not be completed. The foreign secretary appeared confident that the agreement with the IAEA “will come to a rapid and smooth conclusion.’’

Despite Menon’s denials, the fact remains that the government was hoping that the agreed text on the safety protocol would be finalised last week . Members of the Indian delegation which returned home last Saturday had said that the last round of talks were stalled over New Delhi’s right to hold its strategic reserve to meet lifetime supply for its civilian nuclear plants.

Sources agreed that there was no meeting point on the issue of corrective measures to be undertaken in the event of stoppage of fuel to power plants. India has to finalise the text and only after that will the US be able to negotiate with the 45-member NSG to allow New Delhi to integrate with international nuclear commerce. 

g_seema@dnaindia.net