Vienna NSG meet ends - suspense grows as US hints at changes

23 August 2008

Vienna: The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meet in Vienna has ended on an inconclusive note, according to reports, with another round likely to be held on September 4 and 5. Reports also suggest that the US proposes to submit a new draft at the next meet.

"The meeting was positive... Many delegates raised some questions and the US is pleased (with that). I remain optimistic and we will continue to make progress," John Rood, leader of the US delegation at the NSG meet told reporters after the two-day discussions.

"The NSG will meet again in the near future to work on these constructive discussions," he said.

Earlier in Mumbai, a senior United States State Department official said that there may be ''changes in the text'' the  US has submitted to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for considering a waiver for India to trade in fissile materials and technologies.

"There may be changes in the text. But we will not allow any changes that will impede the process or block cooperation," US assistant secretary of state, Richard Boucher, was quoted as saying in an interview with NDTV news channel. Boucher is currently visiting India's business hub, Mumbai.

It is being given to understand that a provision in the Nuclear Suppliers' Group draft, made by some nations that all nuclear commerce between the Group and India be halted if it conducts further tests, may become a sticking point.