23 US groups forge coalition against India nuclear deal

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Twenty-three US groups launched an effort Tuesday to stop a US deal aimed at providing India with civilian nuclear fuel and technology, saying it would instead beef up New Delhi's atomic weapons capability.

The Campaign for Responsibility in Nuclear Trade said the US-India civilian nuclear agreement would also "dangerously weaken" nonproliferation efforts, embolden Iran and North Korea to pursue nuclear weapons and exacerbate a nuclear arms race in Asia.

US President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reached an agreement more than two years ago in which Washington would provide India with nuclear fuel and technology even though the nuclear-armed Asian nation has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Under the agreement India had to place selected atomic facilities under international safeguards. It also has to get a green light from the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, a global regulator of nuclear commerce.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080116/wl_asia_afp/usindianuclearpolitics

[OhioChick]

1. Critics try to sway debate on U.S.-India nuclear deal

Wed Jan 9, 2008 11:22am IST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Critics of the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement on Wednesday urged two international groups whose approval is vital to the deal to take steps to ensure it does not undermine global nonproliferation efforts.

Nearly 100 nongovernmental organizations and 25 individuals made their case in a letter to the 45 nations of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which governs international nuclear trade, and to some board members of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters ahead of its public release on Wednesday, argued that the deal would "damage the already fragile nuclear nonproliferation system and set back efforts to achieve universal nuclear disarmament."

Endorsed by groups including the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, the letter urged NSG members to agree to cut off all nuclear trade with India if it resumes nuclear testing for any reason.

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