CCPA approves text of Indo-US nuclear deal

25 July 2007

Mumbai: The cabinet committee on political affairs (CCPA) has approved the text of the revised Indo-US nuclear deal. The CCPA met to discuss the draft nuclear cooperation agreement under which the US has taken overboard India''s concerns over reprocessing spent fuel.

After reaching a consensus on the text of the 123 agreement, negotiated last week in Washington, the government is now working towards addressing concerns at home.

The 123 agreement fulfils assurances given by the prime minister in parliament relating to uninterrupted fuel supplies, right to reprocess spent fuel, right of return and fallback safeguards, said sources familiar with the tough negotiations.

The US reservation on giving India the right to reprocess spent fuel was addressed after New Delhi offered to set up a dedicated national facility under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

After four days of intense negotiations, Indian and US officials have agreed on a text for the 123 agreement that substantially meets Indian concerns on reprocessing spent fuel, assured nuclear fuel supplies and crucially, the right to test a nuclear device.

The agreement will herald the resumption of bilateral civil nuclear collaboration after a three-decade break, after India was outlawed from the international nuclear community for its ''peaceful nuclear experiment'' in 1974.