US official urges nuclear suppliers to back US-India pact

Posted 08 9 2008 3:17AM

TOKYO (AFP) - A senior US official on Friday urgednuclear supplier states, including Japan, to support the nuclear deal between India and the United States.

The plea came as the Nuclear Suppliers Group of 45 nations that export nuclear fuel and technology consider whether to approve a deal under which the US will provide energy-starved India with civilian nuclear fuel and technology.

"We certainly hope all members will come to a consensus on allowing an exception for India," US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian affairs Richard Boucher told a press conference.

The group's rules ban trade with states that have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including India. Its members will meet on August 21 in Vienna to deliver a final decision.

India needs a waiver from the group and ratification by the US Congress before the deal can go through.

Boucher, who met with Japanese foreign ministry officials during his one-day visit to Tokyo, said that Washington will "listen to key countries and talk to key countries, and Japan is certainly one of them."

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura earlier this week expressed concerns over the deal because India has not yet signed the NPT and has tested nuclear weapons.

"We do understand that Japan is going to ask questions and issues that they want to raise," said Boucher.

"But I think those questions and issues... do indeed have good answers, solid answers because in the end (the deal) contributes to non-proliferation."