BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

16/04/2007

Belarus backs India in NSG

As the Nuclear Suppliers Group began its five-day meeting in Cape Town, India Monday found support from Belarus, a member of the NSG, for its quest for global civil nuclear cooperation.

India and Belarus, a former Soviet republic, strengthened their strategic and political ties by signing an extradition treaty. Belarus also reiterated its support for India's claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko conveyed his country's willingness to back India in the NSG when he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday evening.

'Belarus will continue to work with the participating governments of the NSG in order to create conditions for the expansion of the framework for cooperation with India in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy,' said a joint statement said at the end of Lukashenko's talks with Indian leaders.

Lukashenko arrived in India for a three-day visit Sunday evening.

Belarus' support for India in the area of civilian nuclear energy cooperation is significant in its own way as this former Soviet republic is known to be a strong advocate of stringent non-nuclear proliferation norms and practices.

Belarus has special sensitivity on the nuclear issue as it was one of the countries affected by nuclear radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident from the neighbouring Ukraine.

'The two sides expressed their intention to broaden and strengthen cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy,' the statement said.

India and Belarus also invigorated their ties across political, economic and cultural areas by signing three other pacts for cooperation in the field of agriculture, culture and arts, science and technology.

The two countries signed a protocol on the accession of Belarus to the World Trade Organization.

Source:

http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20070416/47619.htm