'Not decided stand on Indo-US civil nuclear deal'

NEW DELHI: Australia on Tuesday said it is yet to firm up its position on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) though the ruling Labour party's policy did not allow supply of uranium to a non-NPT country which could 'change' later.

Australian High Commissioner John McCarthy admitted that the sale of uranium to India was a "problem" but suggested it should not come in the way of bilateral ties as Canberra attached a "huge amount of significance" to its relationship with New Delhi.
   
On uranium supply, "the policy is no" and the position on Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is "under review," McCarthy said outlining his country's stance on the two key issues at a lecture here.
   
"The government is just going to consider its position on the NSG. Some countries are in favour, some are opposed. Our position is still be to considered by the Ministers," he said.

His comments came a week after the Australian government conveyed to India's special envoy on nuclear issue Shyam Saran that it could not supply uranium because of its policy.
   
McCarthy said Labour party's long-held position was that uranium would not be supplied to non-NPT countries like India. He, however, noted that the former John Howard government had shifted the country's policy on uranium supply.
   
He was quick to add that he cannot say whether this policy of the Labour government can be changed in the future.

"Whether it will change, I don't know. I mean, never say never in politics. The political dynamics can change. It depends on a lot of things," he said, delivering the lecture at the Observer Research Foundation.

The High Commissioner was of the view that the refusal of Australia to sell uranium to India should not affect bilateral ties although he admitted that uranium trade would a 'plus' in economic and political relationship between the two countries.

"This government has a clear policy on sale of uranium... But that does not mean to say we like India any less or the relationship is less important. India is enormously important and we attach a huge significance to the relationship," he said.

Elaborating on this, he said the dynamics between India and Australia is changing and there is 'serious engagement' at the political level while there was an upswing in security cooperation and economic relationship is developing.

He favoured membership for India in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and reiterated Australia's support to New Delhi's bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
   
Asked about Australia's views on India's demand for restructuring the NPT regime, McCarthy said Canberra "will be very active in any discussion of non proliferation. But I see nothing to suggest that it will seek to do away with the NPT."
   
Noting that Australia attaches major importance to the NPT, he said "I think If there is any multilateral international discussion on NPT, including its shape or form, Australia will be very interested in having its say."

He also spoke about the ups and downs in India-Australia ties, mentioning about the Mohammad Haneef and Sydney cricket test episodes, but noted Canberra was seeking increasingly to engage India is different areas.

Talking about New Delhi's energy needs, McCarthy said the bedrock of Australia's relationship with India is going to be resources and identified gas as one of the "elements of future relationship" between the two countries
   
On Australia's ties with Asia, he said Canberra wants to see a multi-polar Asia where there is a strong India, China, Japan, Indonesia and ASEAN.