Britain for N-coop with India, but will await changes in rules

NEW DELHI: Ahead of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's visit here, Britain on Friday voiced interest in having civil nuclear cooperation with India but said any such collaboration will have to await changes in the international rules.

The nuclear issue is expected to figure in the talks that Brown will have with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Monday. The Summit talks will also cover the subjects of terrorism, climate change and business cooperation besides regional issues.

"Civil Nuclear cooperation (between India and the UK) is dependent on international status (of rules of trade)," British High Commissioner Sir Richard Stagg said while briefing journalists on Brown's two-day maiden visit here.

Noting that Britain supports the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said the agreement will "open opportunities for collaboration which do not exist at present".
   
However, Stagg said the "real opportunity for major India-UK collaboration will require changes" in the status of international rules which New Delhi "is trying to do" with the IAEA and the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
   
As part of the Indo-US deal, India is engaged in talks with IAEA for a safeguards agreement, after which it will have to approach the NSG for changes in its rules to allow international community to have trade in the field with New Delhi.
   
The High Commissioner said the Brown government was keen on enhancing Britain's nuclear capacity. "We see ourselves using international expertise," he said, suggesting the scope for cooperation with India.