New Zealand compromises on India nuclear deal
8/9/2008 17:45
The New Zealand government said today that it got the best deal it could
on nuclear trade with India.
The Nuclear Suppliers Group in Vienna has agreed
to an US proposal to allow the sale of nuclear reactors and fuel to
India.
New Zealand is one of 45 members of the group, which had been pushing
for limits on the deal, including an immediate halt in trade if India tests
another nuclear bomb.
But New Zealand Minister for Disarmament and Arms
Control, Phil Goff, said on New Zealand, Ireland and Austria have had to accept
a compromise involving a set of assurances from India, Radio New Zealand
reported today.
Goff was confident that overall the agreement will strengthen
and not weaken nuclear non-proliferation.
The deal now needs to be ratified
by the US Congress before it can be implemented.
India said the deal is vital
for it to meet its civil energy demands.
India has pledged to keep its
nuclear non-proliferation commitments and to uphold a voluntary moratorium on
testing atomic weapons.
Xinhua
|
