Australia Rules out Rethink over Nuclear Exports to India

Sticking to its guns, Australia on Wednesday reiterated that it would not allow uranium exports to India, unless New Delhi signs Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Speaking in New Delhi, Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Evans, ruled out any “rethink” on the matter.

Evans, however, clarified that the decision against uranium exports to non signatories of the NPT was guided by policy and was not India specific.

Explaining his Government’s stand, Evans said export of uranium was a “controversial” issue in Australia’s politics and had been a point of major debate within the country’s ruling Labour Party.

Indian hopes for uranium from Australia, the world’s biggest repository of uranium, had reached a crescendo after Canberra supported the lifting of embargo on civil nuclear trade with India at a meeting of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in 2008.

Evans, however, described India as a “key ally” and noted that bilateral relations were expanding at a rapid pace.

Evans is in New Delhi to convey Australian Government’s commitment to provide full security to Indian students who have been at the receiving end of racially motivated violence in recent months.

(Internet Inputs)