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VIENNA-U.N. nuclear watchdog governors are expected on Friday to approve an inspections plan for India needed for its atomic trade deal with the United States, despite qualms about rewarding a non-proliferation outsider.The deal would open to India the world market in nuclear fuel and technology for civilian uses after an embargo of three decades prompted by New Delhi's testing of atomic bombs and refusal to join the global Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).The draft before the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation governing board would place India's declared civilian nuclear energy plants-14 of 22 existing or planned reactors-under regular IAEA surveillance.If the plan is adopted, India must then win an unprecedented waiver from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) allowing trade in sensitive nuclear materials with an non-NPT state, and ratification by the U.S. Congress for the deal to take force.The first NSG meeting on India is expected on August 21-22.Washington and New Delhi are lobbying skeptical members of the slow-moving NSG hard to help clinch the deal, with time fast running out before U.S. politics pause for November elections. Western powers tout the deal as nudging giant India towards the non-proliferation mainstream and fighting global warming by increasing use of low-polluting nuclear energy in burgeoning developing economies, reducing high oil and gas costs as well.Skeptics, including smaller European and developing nations, Canada, New Zealand and disarmament groups fear it will fray loyalty to an NPT already challenged by a push for nuclear power, led by Iran, in the volatile Middle East.
To read more go to:
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL028080920080731
As in the days of Noah...
