After nuke deal with America, India convinces Russia on of nuclear nonproliferation regime to clear the way for full resumption of nuclear supplies to India
Balaji Reddy
Oct. 23, 2005

India is showing its world-class diplomacy in strategic talks on nuclear technologies with major powers. After striking a land breaking historic deal with America on nukes, India has convinced Russia for a full resumption of nuclear supplies to India.

According to media reports, Stepping up diplomatic efforts to solicit support of key members of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group [NSG] to clear the way for resumption of nuclear supplies to it, India has apprised Russia of its nonproliferation regime and the steps taken to pursue this objective.

New Delhi's stand was outlined by Additional Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry Meera Shankar during her meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislyak as part of talks of the Joint Working Group on Strategic Stability here Friday [21 October].

Russia is one of the key members of the NSG and its stand is crucial for the passage of amendments facilitating free flow of civilian nuclear technologies to India to meet its growing energy requirements.

Under the Indo-US nuclear deal reached between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W. Bush in Washington in July, US has agreed to modify its domestic laws and also seek changes in the NSG guidelines to meet India's requirements.

Russia is building Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu under an agreement signed before it joined NSG after the Soviet collapse. However, it had expressed inability to build more until NSG restrictions were lifted. During Prime Minister Singh's visit to Russia in May, Russian President Vladimir Putin had expressed Moscow's willingness to build more reactors in India, provided the NSG curbs are lifted.

"They told us to talk directly to the US administration and promised their backing in seeking changes in the (NSG) guidelines," a senior Indian diplomat had said in May last after the talks.

External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh is scheduled to pay a three-day visit to Russia from 25 October to attend a session of the Indo-Russian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation.

Natwar Singh will also attend the meeting of the Council of Prime Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation organization [SCO] in which India has an observer status.

Russia and India are seeking to boost economic contacts, "the level of which should meet capabilities and needs of both countries," a Russian Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying by the ITAR-TASS news agency.

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