India hopeful of Swiss support to n-deal waiver

“The Indo-US nuclear deal is important for India’s energy security and I think the Swiss Government will most likely support the waiver for New Delhi at the NSG meet,” Christoffel Brandil, Speaker of the Upper House of Swiss Parliament, said.

Brandil, who was leading a parliamentary delegation in New Delhi, said Switzerland understands India’s energy requirement for overall economic development.

“The nuclear deal is good for India and it should be allowed to go through,” Brandil said.

Asked specifically whether Switzerland will support India’s case when the NSG meets next week in Vienna, he said, “It is a decision that has to be taken by the Government. The Parliament has no role to play in it. But I am confident that the Government will take a favourable stand on the issue.”

Brandil said India has a “good track record” of nuclear non-proliferation and countries which have reservations about the deal should understand India’s need for energy for overall economic development.

The engagement with Switzerland has assumed importance as the latter had expressed strong views at the IAEA board meeting on August 1. The Swiss envoy had said that while they understand India’s quest for energy and its impressive record on the non-proliferation front, they were not enthusiastic about the exceptions being made for India.

The envoy also expressed dissatisfaction at the IAEA safeguards agreement, and said that the global community will have to think of a successor to the NPT after India is granted this exception.

But, with the growing economic relationship with India and Switzerland on the horizon, New Delhi is hoping for a favourable response from the latter at the NSG meet.

Switzerland is expected to open a new Consulate General Office in Bangalore later this year to “further strengthen” its presence in India. It already has a Consulate General Office in Mumbai.

Switzerland, being among the top 10 foreign investors in India, a broad-based trade and investment agreement between India and four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Switzerland, is also expected to be finalised by early next year to facilitate closer economic cooperation.