Moving fast on the India-specific safeguards agreement, the International Atomic Energy Agency has called for a board of governors meeting on August 1 to take up the issue. And in the run-up to that meeting, India plans to hold a special briefing for all IAEA member-states on July 18 in Vienna, three days before the House meets for the trust vote.

It’s learnt that India has already asked IAEA to intimate member states about this open briefing to which all are invited to seek answers or clarify doubts about the document as well as on broader issues. In fact, there is a possibility that Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon could go for the meeting although a final decision is yet to be taken.

Given that all 45 NSG countries are also members of the IAEA but not necessarily on the 35-member board of governors, India’s open briefing is a clear sign of stepping up diplomatic efforts before the board meeting. For, it is expected to help address all NSG members making it easier for them to take a decision whenever the NSG is convened.

India had confirmed the safeguards agreement with IAEA on July 8 and it was circulated the next day among all members. Having got over a week to study the details, the members will be in a position on July 18 to enter into a “fruitful discussion” on the issue, sources said. More importantly, it will allow the Indian side to present its case and lobby for support.

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