Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the U.S., India has notified its separation plan to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under which 14 of its 22 reactors will be placed under safeguards of the watchdog by 2014.
The notification formalities, crucial in paving the way for the implementation of international civil nuclear cooperation, were completed on Thursday night, Department of Atomic Energy sources said. It comes almost 14 months after the 35-member board of governors of the IAEA approved the India-specific nuclear safeguards agreement.
Manmohan’s visit
Dr. Singh will be undertaking, from November 23, the first state visit to the U.S. after Barack Obama took over administration and high on his priority is ironing out the creases for implementation of the civil nuclear cooperation agreement.
The notification is expected to help the negotiations for the reprocessing accord that is at an advanced stage and the two countries are likely to firm it up during Dr. Singh’s visit.
