IAEA Chief: Indian Nuclear Plan on Right Track
By VOA News
01 August 2008
The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog says safeguards for a landmark nuclear cooperation deal between the United States and India meet international requirements.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei made the comment Friday as the IAEA's board of governors began a meeting in Geneva.
The IAEA is one of two international agencies that must approve the deal before it can be ratified by the U.S. Congress.
The agreement would allow the U.S. to sell nuclear fuel and technology to India. In exchange, India must open its civilian nuclear reactors to international inspectors.
Officials say the IAEA board of governors is expected to approve the deal Friday. It would still need the approval of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said the Bush Administration would do whatever it could to make sure the deal gained final approval.
India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and proponents of the agreement say it will help prevent the spread of dangerous nuclear technology.
India's communist and opposition parties object to the nuclear deal because they say it would align the country too closely with Washington and compromise India's national security.
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