IAEA Board approves India nuclear inspection plan (Roundup)

Aug 1, 2008, 13:34 GMT

Vienna - India came one step closer to gaining access to the international nuclear trade Friday as the UN nuclear watchdog's board approved an inspection protocol with the country.

For India, the so-called Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a precondition before US legislators can ratify the 2005 US-India nuclear deal which gives India access to civilian nuclear fuel and technology from abroad.

The IAEA Board of Governors approved the inspection plan with the consensus of all 35 board members.

After separating its nuclear weapons programme from its energy sector, India will allow the IAEA to monitor 14 of its 22 power reactors operating or under construction, up from the six reactors currently being inspected.

Before the board decision, IAEA Director General Mohammed ElBaradei assured member states that the safeguards agreement does not have any loopholes and will go on indefinitely.

Some IAEA members have voiced concern that provisions in the preamble of the agreement could allow India to cease IAEA inspections if its foreign nuclear supplies were interrupted after a nuclear test.

Like other safeguards plans, the Indian agreement 'is of indefinite duration,' ElBaradei said, adding that the preamble contained only 'contextual background.'

Some countries on the IAEA Board of Governors remain concerned about the US-India deal, as it will give the nuclear weapons state access to nuclear technology even though it has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Countries that agree with the IAEA safeguards agreement are expected to raise their concerns more vocally in the Nuclear Suppliers Group of nuclear exporting countries, which will have to change its regulations before the US Congress can approve the US- India deal.