IAEA approves India nuclear inspection agreement

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-02 13:18

VIENNA -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN atomic watchdog, adopted an inspections deal with India on Friday which is considered vital to a US-India nuclear trade deal and to boosting India's nuclear power development.

Anil Kakodkar, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, waits for the beginning of a board of governors meeting in Vienna's U.N. headquarters August 1, 2008. [Agencies]

The IAEA's 35-member board of governors unanimously passed the draft Agreement with the Government of India for the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities, a spokesman said in Vienna on Friday afternoon.

IAEA officials confirmed to Xinhua that the Board of Governors agreed unanimously to sign the agreement with India, including member country Pakistan, who had always had deep concerns over the nuclear program of India.

IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei emphasized in his opening statement that the deal with India did not mean an absolute control but an "umbrella agreement," which allows UN inspectors to monitor 14 existing or planned nuclear reactors by 2014.

The IAEA expected to start implementing the agreement at India's new facilities in 2009, said ElBaradei.

Some experts believe that the IAEA approval of the deal indicates international recognition of India, which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), as one of the big nuclear powers.

The passing of the agreement would enable India to legally import

nuclear technology from countries including the United States, and significantly boost the country's nuclear power development.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a nuclear agreement with US President George W. Bush in New Delhi in March of 2006, allowing India to buy nuclear technology and nuclear fuel from the United States without signing the NPT. But according to the agreement, India's military and civilian nuclear facilities must be separated and under the supervision of the IAEA.

India conducted its first nuclear test in May of 1974 and has since then refused to sign the NPT. The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) including the United States launched a nuclear trade embargo in 1992 against countries who did not sign the NPT.

The US-India deal will be finalized after the 45-nation NSG, which will meet on August 21, lifts the embargo on India. The US Congress will also have to ratify the deal before it can take effect.