US -India nuclear Deals In Focus

Newind Press: February 2 2006
Nuclear Deal: India will not bend under pressure, says PM

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday stated that India will not bend under any pressure on the civil nuclear deal with the United States and that the Parliament will be taken into confidence on the issue. "I should make it quite clear that there is no question of bending. We have clear-cut objectives. We have to have strategic programme, a critical minimum deterrent. There is no question about that," he said.

Addressing a Press Conference, the Prime Minister said India was keen to have international cooperation in promoting trade in nuclear matters so that its "energy security can get an added edge". Pointing out that since 1974, India has been faced with technology denial regimes not only in the US but several other countries, which later came together to form the NSG, the Prime Minister said, "We are seeking a brave world order wherein the NSG will cease to discriminate with India when it comes to trade in nuclear matters."

On the visit of U S President George W Bush in early March, Singh said he looked forward to that trip. "President Bush is an honoured guest," he said adding the two countries would review the state of the relations in the civilian nuclear programme, science and technology and other areas.

On Iran's controversial nuclear programme, Singh said New Delhi's stand at the crucial IAEA meeting would depend on the draft resolution on the issue. The joint statement issued by the P-5 (five permanent members of the UNSC) and Germany was significant and efforts were on in Vienna to resolve the issue through dialogue.

"I still believe that this is a matter which should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue," he said. Just a day ahead of the crucial meeting of the IAEA in Vienna, Singh said the matter should be resolved within the ambit of the IAEA. He said Iran is a signatory to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and it must fulfil all international obligations.

Observing that his government had taken "many new initiatives" with regard to foreign policy and national security, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India's relations with many of its neighbours, including China and Pakistan, had been improving. He said his government had also improved the country's relations with all major powers, especially the US, European Union, Russia and Japan, with whom India had entered into new strategic partnerships. "Our government has taken important steps to make the world adopt a more friendly approach to us," the Prime Minister said.

"We have been able to improve our relations with many of our neighbours, including our biggest neighbour China," the Prime Minister said. He noted that India was pursuing a composite dialogue with Pakistan with the "understanding that in South Asia we have not just a shared past, but a shared future and a shared destiny." Singh emphasised that the development and well-being of all our neighbours was in the interest of India.