The Hindu Business Line : Safeguard pact can be worked out in weeks: IAEA chief

New Delhi, Oct 12 A safeguard agreement with India can be worked out in weeks after the Indian Government decides to go ahead with it, the Chairman of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr Mohammed El Baradei, said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, the IAEA Chairman said that he did not see any opposition from Agency members to India joining. “At the Agency level, I would be surprised if there is any opposition. I cannot answer on what other member countries feel about India. It is for the Government of India and the United States to gauge support and work towards it,” Dr El Baradei said.

Addressing a press conference, the IAEA chief felt that the successful completion of the deal would bring India closer to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Regimes.

Refusing to comment on whether the Indian Government had tried to explain the deal in a wrong manner to its people, Dr El Baradei merely said that he would like to look at the larger picture and what using nuclear energy could mean for India. “Energy is the engine for development. India’s per capita energy consumption is less than a quarter of the world average. Besides, it is about time India be removed from the restrictions and be in a position to interact with both the suppliers and also become a seller,” Dr El Baradei said.

The IAEA chief felt the Indian Government would obviously like to see the deal that it has entered into operationalised. “The deal is good not only for India but also the international community. I do not see how the deal would have an impact on India’s foreign policy,” Dr El Baradei said.

Asked about the economics of nuclear energy, the IAEA Chief said that this was something that depended on a variety of factors including other sources of energy supply. “Nuclear energy is expensive at the front end when a nuclear reactor has to be built. But the operational costs are much lower besides there are a number of other benefits including the impact on climate change,” he said.