India’s membership application to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was a real possibility during the Seoul plenary session, but the consensus developed for a process for all non-signatories to the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (non-NPT) countries instead, says the outgoing chair of the NSG.
“We came to Seoul thinking that we could take a decision [on India’s application], there and then. Some said that was possible, but there were many questions that had to be answered. And some others felt that there must be a prior and thorough discussion before we decide,” explained Argentine Ambassador and outgoing NSG chairperson Rafael Grossi, who now has a key role in trying to build an agreement within the NSG for a possible special plenary later this year.
“There was widespread consensus in Seoul that we need to have a ‘process’ with a serious possibility of making progress,” Mr. Grossi said in an exclusive interview to The Hindu over telephone from Vienna where the nuclear group is headquartered.
Mr. Grossi’s comments indicate that it wasn’t only China’s opposition to India that derailed discussions on India’s membership, but concerns raised by several countries that he refused to name, citing strict confidentiality rules of the NSG.
Read more: > Interview with Ambassador Rafael Grossi
He also countered comments by Chinese lead negotiator Wang Qun, who claimed that India’s membership was never “on the agenda” and wasn’t discussed. Asked if India’s application was discussed, Mr. Grossi replied, “Yes, it was.”
Confirming an earlier report in The Hindu that he was appointed as a “facilitator” to the new NSG Chair from Switzerland, Mr. Grossi said his appointment to speak to all 48-member countries to try and bring a consensus to the debate over non-NPT states like India was a “significant” step forward.
“Otherwise we could have just dropped the ball, called the discussion off, said simply there is no consensus and we all go home. Then we would prepare for another discussion maybe only after a year.”
Beijing, however, denied any knowledge of Mr. Grossi’s appointment, indicating that China may still prove a difficult hurdle to negotiate with. In response to a question on Monday, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: “The [NSG] meeting regarding the accession of non-NPT countries agreed to continue with such discussions. And we have never heard about any other follow-up steps.”
Mr. Grossi said he would not comment on the Chinese statement, but confirmed that he hoped to begin work shortly on trying to ensure there isn’t an “impasse” of the kind seen in Seoul, where the session on non-NPT members stretched past midnight without coming to a decision.
“We need to have a certain understanding, lest we run into a wall again. That is how I see my job now. I need to assist the Chair to get to any future discussion, soon or not so soon, with a clear understanding and a purpose,” hei said.
