PM RETURNS WITH G-8 SUPPORT ON NUCLEAR DEAL
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Having secured the support of Group of Eight leaders of the major economies of the world for India’s civil nuclear agreement with the United States, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returned home early today to face political divide and a possible trust vote in Parliament on the issue. Chair of the G8, in a summary report after the conclusion of the three-day summit in Toyako, Japan, last evening, said ‘’We look forward for working with India, the IAEA, the NSG and other partners to advance India’s non-proliferation commitment and progress so as to faciliate a more robust approach to civil nuclear cooperation with India to help it meet its growing energy needs in a manner that enhances and reinforces the global NPT regime.'’ Earlier, unfased by the Left parties withdrawal of support to his government, the Prime Minister said in Japan that India’s relationship with the United States ‘’has truly acquired the characteristic of a genuine strategic partnership.'’ In a statement made after his 50-minute bilateral meeting with US President George W Bush on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Toyako, the confident PM said ‘’We have (made) progress in nuclear cooperation, space cooperation, defence cooperation and educational exchanges.'’
Filed by Anita Li under Energy and Nuclear Safety, Arms Control, Proliferation and WMD, Conflict Prevention and Human Security