Indian communists allow US deal to proceed

[BBC, 16 November; Reuters, 17 November; PTI, 19 November] India's communist parties approved the government starting talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on a specific safeguards agreement necessary for the proposed civilian nuclear power deal with the USA. The move by prime minister Manmohan Singh's left allies has revived hopes for the bilateral deal. India's communist parties have been vociferous in their opposition to the bilateral on the grounds that its conditions would give the USA influence over Indian foreign policy, and had threatened to withdraw their support from the coalition government if it were to proceed. However, the communists have now said they would let the government start talks with the IAEA provided that no safeguards treaty is signed without their prior approval. "The government will proceed with the talks and the outcome will be presented to the committee for its consideration before it finalizes its findings," a statement issued by a joint panel of the communists and ruling coalition leaders said. India needs to conclude a safeguards agreement for its civilian n uclear reactors with the IAEA and get the backing of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) before the trade with the USA could start. Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin has told India that the IAEA and NSG agreements would be necessary before Russia could enter into any more nuclear power contracts in India. Anil Kakodkar, chair of the Department of Atomic Energy is to meet IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei on 21 November, one day ahead of a regular IAEA board meeting.