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Australian PM backs uranium sales to India
In a bid to enhance diplomatic ties with New Delhi and boost its own economy, Australia on Tuesday pushed for a dramatic policy shift seeking to overturn a ban on its uranium exports to New Delhi.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard publicly declared her support for safeguarded uranium exports to India. “I believe the time has come for Labor to change its position. Selling uranium to India will be good for the Australian economy and for Australian jobs,” she told mediapersons.
“Despite the links of language, heritage and democratic values, in one important regard we treat India differently. We will not sell India uranium for peaceful purposes - though Canada is preparing to - while policy allows us to export it to countries such as China, Japan and the United States,” Gillard said.
Hailing Australia’s initiative, India said it is due to New Delhi’s “impeccable non-proliferation record” and its “growing energy needs”.
External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said, “We understand that Prime Minister Gillard proposes to seek a change in Australian Labor Party’s policy on sale of Uranium to India, in recognition of our growing energy needs, our impeccable non-proliferation record and the strategic partnership between our two countries.”
Mentioning that Indo-US civil nuclear deal and New Delhi’s declaration to separate civil and nuclear installations and abide by IAEA safeguards have “effectively lifted the de facto international ban” on co-operation with India in this area, Gillard said, “Consequently, for us to refuse to budge is all pain with no gain.”
Australia’s Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said this proposal would bring the country’s uranium policy in line with the United States. “As far as this proposal is concerned, on the question of nuclear non-proliferation, the international rules of the game changed, when the US initiated with India a set of arrangements to sell nuclear materials to India, not withstanding India’s long opposition to signing and ratifying nuclear non-proliferation treaties.”
In a bid to enhance diplomatic ties with New Delhi and boost its own economy, Australia on Tuesday pushed for a dramatic policy shift seeking to overturn a ban on its uranium exports to New Delhi.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard publicly declared her support for safeguarded uranium exports to India. “I believe the time has come for Labor to change its position. Selling uranium to India will be good for the Australian economy and for Australian jobs,” she told mediapersons.
“Despite the links of language, heritage and democratic values, in one important regard we treat India differently. We will not sell India uranium for peaceful purposes - though Canada is preparing to - while policy allows us to export it to countries such as China, Japan and the United States,” Gillard said.
Hailing Australia’s initiative, India said it is due to New Delhi’s “impeccable non-proliferation record” and its “growing energy needs”.
External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said, “We understand that Prime Minister Gillard proposes to seek a change in Australian Labor Party’s policy on sale of Uranium to India, in recognition of our growing energy needs, our impeccable non-proliferation record and the strategic partnership between our two countries.”
Mentioning that Indo-US civil nuclear deal and New Delhi’s declaration to separate civil and nuclear installations and abide by IAEA safeguards have “effectively lifted the de facto international ban” on co-operation with India in this area, Gillard said, “Consequently, for us to refuse to budge is all pain with no gain.”
Australia’s Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said this proposal would bring the country’s uranium policy in line with the United States. “As far as this proposal is concerned, on the question of nuclear non-proliferation, the international rules of the game changed, when the US initiated with India a set of arrangements to sell nuclear materials to India, not withstanding India’s long opposition to signing and ratifying nuclear non-proliferation treaties.”
