Mbeki assures support at NSG

South Africa today said it would support India8217;s case in the Nuclear Suppliers Group once the US Congress clears the civilian nuclear deal with India.

South Africa today said it would support India8217;s case in the Nuclear Suppliers Group NSG once the US Congress clears the civilian nuclear deal with India. The NSG is a group of 45 countries working to curb the transfer and re-export of materials, equipment, technology and software that may facilitate nuclear weapons development.

This is, however, only a baby step in getting the NSG member-countries trade with India. The group8217;s members have between them all resources 8212; material, equipment and technology 8212; for building civilian nuclear capabilities. Since India is not a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty NPT, the NSG does not trade with it.

Addressing the media in Johannesburg after inking a series of bilateral agreements, South African President Thabo Mbeki said, 8220;South Africa has absolutely no problem with that supporting India in the NSG. Surely, we will support it.8221; Earlier, in an hour-long tete-a-tete, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked Mbeki to take a sympathetic view of India8217;s civilian nuclear aspirations post the Indo-US deal.

To a query, Singh said India would push for South Africa8217;s membership in the UNSC. 8220;We discussed reforms in the UNSC. South Africa, by virtue of its standing in the African continent, is eminently entitled to that place,8221; the Prime Minister said.

South Africa, estimated to have 10 per cent of global uranium reserves, is an important member of the NSG. India, which is short of uranium, has been scouting for it to run its reactors. It had discussed the possibility of importing it from Australia, also a member of the NSG and holding about 29 per cent of world8217;s medium-cost uranium reserves.

NSG member-countries have, so far, desisted from supplying uranium or technology to India since it is not a signatory of the NPT. In fact, the NSG itself was formed in 1975, in response to India8217;s nuclear test the previous year.

Mbeki said he discussed the matter with Singh. 8220;We are awaiting the outcome at the US Congress. Earlier this year, there was a meeting of the NSG. But it remained inconclusive,8221; he said. The NSG had its plenary meeting on June 1-2 this year in Brasilia. It examined the issues raised by the Indo-US joint statement of July 2005 and discussed in this context an NSG-India relationship on civilian nuclear cooperation.

Singh meets 8216;living legend8217; Mandela

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Johannesburg: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Nelson Mandela as the 8220;greatest Gandhian of our age8221; after a private meeting with the former South African President in Johannesburg on Monday. The 88-year-old world leader, on the other hand, said Indians, especially men like Mahatma Gandhi, had influenced the south African freedom struggle. 8220;We respect them Indians and honour them,8221; he said.

Singh met Mandela at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in the evening. Prime Minister Singh said, 8220;Congress President Sonia Gandhi has asked me to convey to you her warmest regards. She said, she has most pleasant memories of meeting you several times in the past.8221; He also conveyed to Mandela the warmest regards of India8217;s President and all Indians. 8220;For us, you are a living legend, the greatest Gandhian of our age,8221; Singh said of Mandela.