Canada, India To Cooperate In Civilian Nuclear Energy

Though not as path-breaking as the Washington declarations, the new initiatives in cooperation between Canada and India will see them working together on nuclear technologies under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. "I welcome Foreign Minister Singh's visit and the occasion to advance the already dynamic partnership between Canada and India," said Pettigrew. "India is a global power and an important partner with whom we are building an intense, broad and enduring relationship." Natwar Singh's visit here came close on the heels of India's decision to side with the US at a crucial IAEA meeting to send Iran's nuclear programme issue to the UN Security Council in the event that diplomacy failed and Tehran refused to comply with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). At the talks, India agreed to Canada's proposal for nuclear safety collaboration and the two sides agreed to develop a mutually beneficial bilateral framework. The two governments agreed to back scientific and technical contacts on a broader range of civilian nuclear issues within the public domain. Canada also agreed to allow the supply of nuclear-related dual-use items to Indian civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards and in accordance with the requirements of the Nuclear Suppliers Group's dual-use guidelines. Both governments agreed to pursue further opportunities for developing peaceful uses of nuclear energy both bilaterally and through the appropriate international forums, consistent with their international commitments. Decades ago, Canada supplied the CIRUS reactor that India has been accused of using for its nuclear weapons programme, contrary to the terms of the bilateral agreement under which it was supplied. That agreement required the reactor to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. Currently, there is a demand from NPT hardliners that in order for India to get civilian nuclear cooperation going, it should declare the CIRUS facility a civilian facility and place it under IAEA inspection, in keeping with the terms of the new US-India understanding. At their meeting, Pettigrew and Natwar Singh also reviewed progress in meeting commitments outlined in the joint declaration agreed to by Prime Ministers Paul Martin and Manmohan Singh during the former's visit to India in January. They noted that advances had been made in all key areas of the joint declaration - a science and technology initiative, environmental cooperation, a partnership for prosperity, people-to-people links between Canada and India and foreign policy issues. They indicated that Canada and India will continue their counter-terrorism collaboration and announced the two countries will work toward jointly hosting a workshop on financial remittance systems and terrorism to be held in 2006. The two ministers also agreed to explore ways to enhance energy relations between Canada and India. They reaffirmed the importance of deepening people-to-people and academic linkages between the two countries. Pettigrew confirmed Canada's ongoing support for the work of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, which promotes, among other things, innovative science and technology partnering between Canadian and Indian member universities. The two ministers agreed that continued high-level engagement is essential to building the partnership. In this regard, Pettigrew welcomed Natwar Singh's confirmation that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Canada in 2006. http://www.paktribune.com/news/print.php?id=120390&PHPSESSID=38211368a2ac46f5789516c0a4e3ff54 [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on September 29, 2005]

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