Sweden to take 'positive' view of India-US nuclear deal

May 4, 2007, 17:09 GMT

New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) Sweden, a member of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group known for its tough views on non-proliferation, Friday assured New Delhi that it will take a 'positive approach' towards the India-US nuclear deal in the NSG.

Sweden also backed India's claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and underlined the need for intensification of strategic dialogue and economic ties between the two countries.

'Sweden said that they are watching the negotiations between India and the United States and would naturally be taking their decisions after that,' external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna told reporters after talks between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt.

'They (Sweden) understand and they appreciate India's concerns and needs for energy and he assured the external affairs minister of a positive approach,' Sarna added.

Sweden, along with other Scandinavian countries and Japan, are sceptical of nuclear energy cooperation and may pose a problem for India in the NSG due to their extreme sensitivities on this issue.

Backing New Delhi's bid for a seat in the UN Security Council, Bildt told Mukherjee that as and when the council is restructured 'no other country will have as strong a claim as India does'.

The two ministers also discussed a broad range of bilateral and international issues, including intensification of economic ties, climate change and the situation in South Asia.

They also agreed on the need to expand and diversify ties across a broad spectrum and said the two countries would further cement their cooperation in areas like IT, bio-technology, telecom, environment technologies, renewable energy and investment in infrastructure.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service