India upbeat after unconditional IAEA safeguard pact

Vienna: The mood in the Indian camp was distinctly upbeat after the civilian nuclear deal with the US passed its first international test here on Friday with the IAEA unanimously approving a country-specific safeguards agreement, the penultimate step in making the deal operational.

"That the agreement was approved by consensus makes me very happy. It is a clean and unconditional exemption for India," a red-eyed, very exhausted but happy Anil Kakodkar, who heads India's Department of Atomic Energy, told IANS as he emerged from the meeting of IAEA's 35-member board here.

What made the victory sweeter was that the IAEA's 35-member board unanimously approved the safeguards agreement.

“This is an important step for India and for the world at large. India has been a responsible country in the past and will continue to follow the philosophy of being responsible in the future,” Kakodkar said.

Questioned if India will meet the same happy fate when its case is reviewed by the Nuclear Suplliers Group of 45 nations, some of whom reluctant to do with business with India as it has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Kakodkar said: "We will cross that bridge when we come to it."

Pakistan, India’s nuclear rival, had on July 18 circulated its criticism of the agreement but chose not to oppose its approval on Friday.

Before the meeting started on Friday morning, the Indian delegation that included Saurabh Kumar, New Delhi's permanent representative to the IAEA, looked nervous even as his colleagues expressed optimism over the outcome of the meet.

Gregory L Schulte, America’s ambassador to the IAEA, was the most cheerful and remained sprightly throughout the day. Schulte emerged often from the closed door meeting to say: “We are close to reaching a consensus, guys. We are almost through, guys. I did not think it would take this long.”

Schulte was the most photographed person of the day along with Kakodkar.

The Pakistani delegation preferred to keep to the sidelines and when questioned earlier in the day if Pakistan will oppose the agreement, ambassador Shahbaz replied: “We plan nothing of the sort.”

After having agreed to approve the agreement by consensus, Pakistan asked to air its views on the issue.

According to an IAEA official who attended the meeting, Pakistan reiterated that there should be no discrimination and that if India was given nuclear status, Pakistan expected to be treated in the same way. IAEA chief Mohammad El Baradei added cheer to the mood within the Pakistani delegation when he concluded the exciting but exhausting day with a press conference where he said there was no reason why Pakistan should not enjoy benefits similar to India's. “Pakistan is in a similar situation. Pakistan too badly needs energy and a lot of energy that is essential for development and security,” El Baradei said