Miliband hails nuclear co-operation

Britain has welcomed an international deal which will allow the US to engage in trade in civil nuclear material and technology with India.

The plan was approved by the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group, which brings together nations involved in the legal trade of nuclear components and know-how, after three days of wrangling in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

Austria, which along with Ireland and New Zealand had been holding out against agreement, lifted its opposition after India pledged not to spark a new nuclear arms race or share sensitive technology with other countries.

Speaking after approval was granted, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "It is very welcome that the Nuclear Suppliers Group has reached agreement on civil nuclear co-operation with India.

"The UK has supported the US/India Civil Nuclear Initiative from the beginning. We believe it will make a significant contribution to energy and climate security, as well as developmental and economic objectives, for India and the international community.

"India's clear commitment to a voluntary unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing is also important. Today's result represents a gain for the non-proliferation regime by bringing India further into the broader non-proliferation framework, a framework the UK firmly supports."

The Nuclear Suppliers Group was created in response to New Delhi's first tests of its own atomic weapons in 1974. India last conducted nuclear weapons tests in 1998.

The US says that selling civil nuclear technology to India will help the country meet its energy needs while cutting back on the carbon emissions which are blamed for global warming.

The US initiative - which reverses three decades of Washington policy - had already gained the approval of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and now needs backing from Congress before trade can commence.

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