IAEA clears inspections plan

Washington must now persuade a 45-nation nuclear supply group (NSG) to grant India a waiver allowing trade with a non-NPT nation, then get US Congress ratification



India came one step closer to sealing the controversial civil nuclear agreement with the US. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors on Friday cleared the country-specific safeguards agreement by consensus. The agreement was cleared the 35-nation IAEA board unanimously. IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei told concerned agency governors that the inspections scheme met non-proliferation safeguards standards and talks had begun on a system of more intrusive, short-notice checks - which would boost confidence in India's intentions.

ElBaradei touched on diplomatic concern that parts of the draft blur divisions between civil and military atomic reactors, with a possible loophole that could allow India to transfer weapons-grade fuel separated from civilian stocks to its military programme. "These are not comprehensive or full-scope safeguards (unlike with NPT member states)...," he said. "But it satisfies India's needs while maintaining all the agency's legal requirements," he told the closed Vienna meeting. Some diplomats were concerned such language might allow India to halt inspections unilaterally if nuclear fuel imports were cut off.

Washington must now persuade a 45-nation nuclear supply group (NSG) to grant India a waiver allowing trade with a non-NPT nation, then get US Congress ratification, to sew up the deal. The initial NSG meeting on India is expected to be held on Aug. 21-22. A total of 14 Indian nuclear reactors will come under the UN nuclear watchdog safeguards by 2014. Six Indian reactors are already under IAEA supervision. IAEA expects to start implementing the agreement at new facilities in 2009.