Australia won't sell uranium to India

Australia won't sell uranium to India

January 15, 2008 - 6:16PM


Australia won't sell uranium to India while it is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says.

Mr Smith reiterated the Labor government's policy on uranium in friendly talks in Perth with Shyam Saran, Special Envoy of the Indian Prime Minister on Tuesday.

In his first speech as minister last month, Mr Smith said one of Labor's priorities would be adding "depth and vigour" to its relationship with India.

He described the talks with Mr Saran as a "good and friendly meeting", including discussions on the recent cricket dispute between the nations and bilateral trade.

"The Australian government is very much looking forward to taking the relationship with India to an even better level," Mr Smith said.

They also discussed Australia's position on selling uranium to countries such as India which are not members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the minister said.

"We went into the election with a strong policy commitment we would not export uranium to nation states who are not members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," Mr Smith told reporters.

He said Labor's position did not surprise the envoy.

Last year, the previous federal government struck an in-principle agreement with India to sell uranium to the subcontinent nation.

The deal was to be subject to strict conditions, including guarantees the uranium would be used for power generation only, despite India not being a signatory to the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

An Indian High Commission spokesman said it was aware the meeting took place, but not aware of the details.

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