The Hindu : Front Page : No deadline for talks, says ElBaradei

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 11, 2007
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No deadline for talks, says ElBaradei

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Mohammed ElBaradei said on Wednesday that there was no deadline for starting talks on an India-specific safeguards arrangement but pointed out that it was imperative for the country to utilise nuclear energy to sustain the current high growth rate.

“There is no deadline to start formal talks with us. …there is a domestic political dialogue on…… we are ready whenever the Government of India is ready. It is for India to decide,” he said when asked whether a delay in starting talks on a safeguard arrangement could kill the nuclear deal. “I did not ask Pranab Mukherjee this question,” Mr. ElBaradei said when asked whether he had sought a timetable from the Foreign Minister for initiating formal talks on an India-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

“I want India to be a full partner of IAEA. India needs nuclear energy. Without nuclear energy it is difficult to maintain 10 per cent growth rate…. The [India-specific] safeguards agreement is not important as we already have a couple of safeguards agreements with India. It is a standard procedure that we have in civilian nuclear sector.

“As a friend of India, I would like to see India making full use of nuclear energy to enable it to sustain its 10 per cent growth rate.”

India was a fast developing country and 70 per cent of its petroleum is being imported while coal reserves are depleting at a rapid rate, he said.

“We don’t have to discuss the nuclear deal,” said official Indian sources about Mr. ElBaradei’s engagements in the national capital which also include an official dinner hosted by Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, a call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday besides visiting Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

Invited by a newspaper for its conference, he was requested by the Department of Atomic Energy to visit its facilities near Mumbai.

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