EUMA will not give unhindered access to US inspectors: India

New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) India Thursday sought to
dismiss concerns over the End Use Monitoring agreement reached
with the US, saying it will not give unhindered access to
American inspectors to India's military establishments.

"Nothing can be farther from truth" that Indian
defence installations would be open for American inspection,
Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said replying to
a debate in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament)
on the Prime Minister's recent foreign visits.

"It is not as if US inspectors can walk into any
defence installation and inspect it. We will decide by mutual
consent on the venue where the inspection will take place," he
said amid concerns of members that the EUMA would give free
access to US inspectors to visit Indian military
installations.

Under the agreement which was concluded during the
visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week, the
US will have the right to verify end use of any military
equipment or technology supplied by it.

"There has never been a thought of our sovereignty
being compromised," Krishna said.

Dissatisfied by the reply, all Left members walked out
of the House at this stage. (MORE) PTI ARC
DdC
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