‘It is not possible to compare Iran with India. India has never signed the NPT, while Iran has. So, it is not double standards in terms of international law’

: Days before India and the US start negotiations on the 123 bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement, German Ambassador to India Bernd Muetzelburg told The Indian Express that Berlin will not come in the way of India getting approval from the Nuclear Suppliers Group for peaceful nuclear cooperation. Germany has so far been non-committal on its position, given its strong views on nuclear non-proliferation but now its role will increasingly become important as it prepares to take over as head of NSG next year. Having been the National Security Advisor to former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Muetzelburg narrates an interesting story on how Schroeder had set a target in 2004 to double bilateral trade with India by 2009. It stood at 5 billion euros then. In 2006, it crossed 10 billion euros surpassing Schroeder’s expectations and silencing all dissent. Ambassador Muetzelburg spoke to Pranab Dhal Samanta and Vikas Dhoot:

• Given that Germany will take over as chair of the Nuclear Suppliers Group next year when the exemption for India is likely to be debated, can you shed some light on how your position is evolving?

I cannot imagine that the NSG discussions would fail because of Germany. We still don’t know what will be the concrete outcome of the talks between India and the US on the 123 agreement and with the IAEA on the safeguards agreement. All we now have is the Hyde Act which is actually an authorisation to enter into specific negotiations with India. So, we will just have to wait. But Chancellor Merkel has expressed her appreciation of energy needs for India and recognises that energy mix will contain nuclear energy.

• What would Germany’s parameters be for a nuclear deal with India?

At the first instance, this will be an agreement for peaceful uses of nuclear energy with an underlined special interest in preserving the integrity of the international non-proliferation system... and that it doesn’t contain double standards.

• There have been these concerns voiced in the context of the Iran nuclear issue. Some have dragged the India deal into this. Does Germany see merit in this comparison?

When this (Indo-US nuclear) deal was announced, our foreign minister had voiced concern that it may send the wrong message. It was a relevant concern, even though it is not possible to compare Iran with India. India has never signed the NPT, while Iran has. So, it...

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