The IAEA is believed to be working on convening a Board meeting to approve the agreement, which is the next step in operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal
The Government on Thursday released the controversial text of the India-specific safeguards agreement that has reportedly been sent to the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) for its ratification.
The draft safeguards agreement was circulated to the UN nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors yesterday, according to reports. The draft was circulated following a request from the Indian Government, the IAEA said.
"At the request of the Government of India, the IAEA Secretariat today circulated to members of the IAEA Board of Governors for their consideration, the draft of an agreement for the application of safeguards to civilian nuclear facilities," IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said in Vienna yesterday.
The IAEA is believed to be working on convening a meeting of its Board to approve the India-centric safeguards agreement, which is the next step in the operationalisation of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
Fleming said that the Board chairman will consult fellow IAEA members to fix a date to discuss the draft amid reports that a special governors meeting will be convened in Vienna on July 28 to discuss the safeguards text.
"The chairman of the IAEA Board is consulting with other members to agree on a date for a meeting when the agreement would be considered," she said.
Significantly, the move by the Indian Government comes in the wake of Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's comments that the Centre will approach the IAEA only after seeking a trust vote in parliament.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Veerappa Moily said that the Government is ready to seek a trust vote in parliament before the IAEA Board meeting. He said that the UPA had not reneged on its promise by circulating the safeguards draft.
The BJP, the main opposition party, had criticised the Government for deceiving the people of the country by going to the IAEA Board with a draft safeguards agreement without obtaining an approval from the parliament
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