N-deal’s first global trust vote today

Pakistan’s attempts to force a vote caused unease both in India and the US but it appeared to back off after the US nudged Islamabad not to block the approval or seek amendments.

IAEA sources said the safeguards text is likely to be approved by consensus but in the highly unlikely event of a vote, Pakistan may well abstain. IAEA decisions are usually taken by consensus except when the Iran’s controversial nuclear programme came up for vote.

Sources said the crucial meeting will see statements delivered by the Indian and US Ambassadors to the IAEA as well as by the nuclear watchdog’s Director General Mohammed ElBaradei.

Pushing for approval of the safeguards text, the US declared yesterday that the pact was a net gain for global non-proliferation. The pact would place India’s declared civilian nuclear energy plants —14 of 22 existing or planned reactors — under regular IAEA surveillance. US Ambassador to the IAEA Gregory L Schulte said the pact was sound.

Once the safeguards pact is cleared, India must win an unprecedented waiver from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The NSG meeting is expected to be held here around August 21.

Atomic Energy Commission Chief Anil Kakodkar and other top nuclear officials are here for negotiations on the safeguards agreement and an Additional Protocol to be cleared by the IAEA and to convince NSG members to give New Delhi a “clean” waiver for implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal.

ENS adds: The safeguards agreement has come under fresh attack, this time from an advocacy group which has urged the Board of Governors not to approve the agreement in its present form. In a letter circulated to the Board members 48 hours before the text comes up for approval, the Arms Control Organisation has asked members to clarify provisions relating to the termination of the safeguards agreement, specifically whether they allow India to unilaterally withdraw its nuclear material and facilities from safeguards.

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