India Wary of NSG Move To Restrict ENR Exports.

NEW DELHI: As the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meets for a plenary session in The Hague next week, India said it was opposed to any move to restrict enrichment and reprocessing technology (ENR) by the 45-nation body. This would have the effect of negating the nuclear exemption given to India in September 2008, government sources said.

"We have expressed deep reservations with the move to withhold transfer of ENR technology (to India) which would dilute the whole message of exemption given to us in September 2008," they said. This came even after foreign secretary Nirupama Rao reportedly had a positive meeting with the NSG troika recently, as well as the US' Ellen Tauscher, in charge of non-proliferation and arms control.

However, India is continuing to work on countries to build its case for membership to the NSG. "Our outreach programme is going on. We don't believe the next NSG meeting will decide on India's membership but would like timelines so that a positive decision is there for the four processes," a source said. India wants a "package deal" for membership to all four international non-proliferation bodies -- Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group, NSG and MTCR.

The US is spearheading India's campaign for membership, after US President Barack Obama publicly committed to it during his India visit in November 2010. But the US and India don't agree on everything, sources said. These include some of the additions to the export control regimes that India would have to undertake. Rao recently held "productive" discussions with the NSG troika comprising New Zealand, Hungary and the Netherlands.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com