The Hindu Business Line : ‘NSG consensus implies recognition of India’s stature’

Chennai, Sept. 9 The consensus at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (in allowing its members to trade in nuclear material with India even though India is not a signatory of the Nuclear non proliferation treaty), is a recognition of India’s emergence as a “great power”, Mr Stephen Smith, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, said today.

Speaking to journalists of The Hindu group of publications, Mr Smith said Australia adopted a “positive approach” at the NSG and International Atomic Energy Agency because the Indo-US nuclear deal would bring Indian nuclear regime under the IAEA.

He, however, said that Australia would not supply uranium to India, following its policy of not supplying nuclear fissile material to any country that is not a signatory of the NPT.

However, it would be a “mistake” to think that the nuclear issue underlines or defines the Indo-Australian relations, Mr Smith said.

Asia-Pacific century

Observing that the current century is a century of the Asia-Pacific (and not just China), Mr Smith said that the economies of India and Australia enjoyed many complementarities which offered a huge potential for partnership.

He said that Australia was keen on providing technical training to Indian youth in various vocations. Such training could be provided by Australia in India.

“I would like to see more activity in India by Australian universities,” Mr Smith said.

Skills shortage

He noted that there was a shortage of skills, especially of mechanical and electrical engineers in Australia, a gap that Indians could fill.

Asked about visa procedures for Indian students, Mr Smith admitted that Australia had recently tightened the procedures.

But he stressed that it was only to seek “evidence of intent to study” and would not deter young Indians from pursuing educational opportunities in Australia.

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