Portugal to convince NSG members on Indo-US N-deal

NEW DELHI: Backing India's case in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Portugal on Saturday said it was "high time" the international community accepted that New Delhi was "prudent" and had given "enough guarantees" for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Visiting Portugal Prime Minister Jose Socrates who held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also extended his country's support to India's candidature for permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council.

At a joint press meet with Singh here, Socrates promised that Portugal would do its "utmost" to convince others in the 45-member NSG to support India.

"We are convinced that India has given evidence of being prudent in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy," he said on being asked whether Portugal will use its influence to convince other NSG members to support India's case.

"It is high time the world acknowledged that India has given enough guarantees" on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, he stressed.

India needs to firm up a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and secure changes in the NSG guidelines to bring into operation the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and allowing international nuclear commerce with it.

Supporting India's bid for a permanent seat in the Security Council, he said the world has changed and this needs to be reflected in the UN body.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com