US welcomes India signing global nuclear convention
By IANSWednesday, October 27, 2010
NEW DELHI - The US Wednesday welcomed India signing a global pact on nuclear liability in Vienna, saying it will bring benefits to both countries and help provide clean electricity to Indians.
The US notes India’s signing of the CSC. It will bring benefits to both countries, to suppliers and to the Indian people, US Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer told reporters here.
It will help provide clean and affordable electricity to Indian people, the US envoy said hours after India’s signed the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
The signing of the CSC is a key step that will assuage concerns of US companies and enable them to resume nuclear trade with New Delhi.
The pact was signed by Dinkar Khullar, India’s ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the IAEA, days before US President Barack Obama begins his maiden to India.
The convention will give India access to a global fund for compensation in case of a nuclear accident with trans-national implications. Adopted on September 12, 1997, the convention has been signed by 14 countries, including India, but only four countries — the US, Argentina, Morocco and Romania - have ratified the convention so far.
