G-8 nations vow to curb ENR technology, surprise India

New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) The group of eight developed
countries have vowed to curb transfer enrichment and
reprocessing (ENR) technology and equipment, surprising India
as it goes against the spirit of Nuclear Suppliers Group's
"clean" waiver to it.

In a joint statement on non-proliferation, the G-8
nations also pushed other members of the 45-nation NSG to
reach a consensus within this year to disallow transfer of ENR
to countries which are not signatories to NPT.

The statement was issued after the Summit that was
attended by India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in L'Aquila
in Italy.
The move, which would have an impact on India, comes
even though the NSG had last September given New Delhi "clean"
and "full" waiver for civil nuclear cooperation with the world
despite it being a non-signatory to NPT.

"To reduce the proliferation risks associated with the
spread of enrichment and reprocessing facilities, equipment
and technology, we welcome the progress that continues to be
made by the NSG on mechanisms to strengthen controls on
transfers of such enrichment and reprocessing items and
technology," said the statement issued Friday.

While noting that the NSG has not yet reached consensus
on this issue, the G-8 nations said "we agree that NSG
discussions have yielded useful and constructive proposals
contained in the NSG's 'clean text' developed at the November
20,2008 Consultative Group meeting."

Pending completion of work in the NSG, the statement
said, "we agree to implement this text on a national basis in
the next year."

It also urged the NSG to "accelerate its work and
swiftly reach consensus this year to allow for global
implementation of a strengthened mechanism on transfers of
enrichment and reprocessing facilities, equipment and
technology."

The decision of the G-8, which includes the US, took
India by surprise even though officials here insist that New
Delhi does not need the technology as it possesses it.

The issue of ENR transfer had been a sticking point
between India and the US during negotiations for the bilateral
civil nuclear agreement, with Washington refusing to yield on
it citing its non-proliferation policies.

However, the NSG, while granting the waiver at its
plenary in Vienna on September last year, stated that
"participating governments may transfer nuclear-related
dual-use equipment, materials, software and related technology
to India for peaceful purposes and for use in IAEA safeguarded
civil nuclear facilities". PTI AKK
anu
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