``India has opened options of reaching the target through accelerating the indigenous construction of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR) and fast breeder reactors (FBR) with procurement of LWRs from friendly countries followed by development of the LWR technology,'' according to chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission R Chidambaram in Vienna.

Speaking at the general debate of the ongoing 42nd general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he said detailed internal reviews and consultations between professionals have recommended an installed capacity of 20,000 MW for nuclear power by 2020 AD.

Chidambaram told the IAEA that as a specialised agency it should not be allowed to degenerate into a ``shadow political forum'' repeating the debate in the UN General Assembly.

``There is a strong need for restoring the original scientific technical character of the IAEA,'' Chidambaram said adding ``it is time the IAEA should aim at an international nuclear heritage.''

Chidambaram's comments on the IAEA being used as a political forum to convey objections on ``extraneous political issues'' came as several countries voiced their concern on the recent nuclear tests by India and Pakistan here while asking them to sign the CTBT immediately and unconditionally.

``From the point of view of developing countries, the focus of this conference should be on the statutory technical issues like nuclear power and not on extraneous political issues related to nuclear weapons, a subject better dealt with by the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva,'' he said.

In an observation, Chidambaram said there should not be hesitation in developing countries to initiate a nuclear power programme due to unfamiliarity with steps needed for it.

``A situation must not be created where the leadership and the public in developing countries, planning to introduce nuclear power for the first time, feel frightened by safety and threatened by safeguards,'' he said.

Chidambaram said the IAEA must play a key role in removing such inhibitions while at the same time ensuring safety of nuclear power and implementing effectively and economically its safeguard responsibilities.

He also welcomed as appropriate the IAEA's decision to hold a seminar in India next month on ``Nuclear power in developing countries: Its potential role and strategies for its development'' saying the developing countries had the greatest need for energy growth.

Russia to reduce N-weapons

UNITED NATIONS: Russia has pledged its commitment to reduction of nuclear weapons arsenal and appealed to all states to accede to nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaties.

Addressing the on-going UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Igor S Ivanov expressed concern over the emergence of a ``real threat in the form of nuclear weapons proliferation.''

Russia, he said, is committed to the idea of continued reduction of nuclear weapons arsenal and maintenance of strategic stability at lower armament levels.