NSG waiver passport for India to conduct N-trade: Pranab

Describing the NSG waiver as a "passport" for India, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee says New Delhi will wait for ratification of the 123 agreement by the US Congress.

Describing the NSG waiver as a "passport" for India to conduct nuclear trade with the international community, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said New Delhi will wait for ratification of the 123 agreement by the US Congress before entering into bilateral agreements with other supplier countries.

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"As far as the procedure is concerned, now we shall have to wait for the ratification of the 123 agreement between India and the US," Mukherjee said on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi.

"...The approval by the board of governors of the IAEA for the India-specific safeguards agreement and the NSG waiver are the passports to enter into international nuclear trade," he said.

"Through the bilateral agreements with the supplying countries, we will actually enter into the trade. After the ratification of the US Congress this process will begin," the minister added.

He said that the US Congress requires two documents namely the India-specific safeguards agreement approved by the Board of Governors of the IAEA and amendment to NSG guidelines by providing waiver to India after which they can ratify the 123 agreements.

India would be able to enter bilateral agreements with other countries after these procedures are completed, Mukherjee said.