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Journalism of Courage
In the backdrop of the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal, Australian Prime Minister John Howard today said Canberra would look at it 8216;8216;positively8217;8217; while weighing New Delhi8217;s request for removing the ban on uranium supplies to India.
On the basis of India8217;s unblemished non-proliferation record, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked Howard to review his country8217;s decision not to sell uranium to India. The Australian policy is to not supply uranium to those who are not members of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
A non-committal Howard, who is in India on a bilateral visit, told a joint press conference after talks with Singh that his country would require more details on the Indo-US deal. The PM, for his part, said he 8216;8216;sincerely expected8217;8217; Australia to review its decision.
Singh pointed out that despite not being a signatory to the NPT, India had consciously implemented non-proliferation measures that were very much in tune with the treaty. 8216;8216;We have an impeccable record of non-proliferation. We are also committed to self-imposed moratorium,8217;8217; he said while making the point that it is time for the world to take note of this.
While drawing attention to his country8217;s long-standing policy on not selling uranium to a country that had not signed the NPT, Howard said the deal between India and US was 8216;8216;very significant8217;8217; and Canberra will look at it 8216;8216;positively8217;8217;.
Confronted with repeated questions, the Australian Prime Minister remarked, 8216;8216;Policies don8217;t change at a press conference8217;8217; and said there was no automatic impact of the Indo-US deal on Australia8217;s long-standing policies.
He was also guarded on how Australia would position itself on the deal in the Nuclear Suppliers Group NSG. While hoping that India would get in touch with NSG members, he said Canberra still had to 8216;8216;take counsel8217;8217; on what stand to take.
After an hour-long talk between the two PMs, both sides signed six pacts, including one on defence cooperation, which puts in place a joint working group. Howard also announced a 25-million Australian research assistance to India in science and technology, including biotechnology.
