| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Atish" |
| Date: |
04 Mar 2006 02:46:46 AM |
| Object: |
US-India deal 'undermines' Iran case |
US-India deal 'undermines' Iran case
by Ahmed Janabi
Friday 03 March 2006 9:10 PM GMT
Bush and Singh (R) signed the nuclear deal on Thursday
The Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control has said the US - India
nuclear pact undermines global efforts to convince Iran to give up its
nuclear activities.
Valerie Lincy of The Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control told
Aljazeera.net on Saturday that the timing of the pact sent a wrong
message to Iran and the world.
"The timing just makes it worse - we are pressing Iran to let go of its
nuclear activities and give up its attempts to acquire nuclear
technologies and at the same time we are providing the same technology
to India" she said.
"It is time we need to show our seriousness. By signing such a pact
with India we are just telling people we are being selective."
Iranian resident representative to the IAEA declined to comment on the
US-Indian pact; however he denounced US' double standards regarding
Israel.
"Israel's violations is known for everybody, yet nothing is mentioned
or even discussed," Ali Asghar Soltanieh told Aljazeera.net.
The nuclear pact sealed between the US and India on Thursday has raised
questions on its timing as the international community is at odds with
Iran's nuclear issue.
Exchange of interests
Under the deal signed by US President George Bush and Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, Washington has offered New Delhi nuclear fuel
and technology provided it separates its civil and military nuclear
facilities and places the former under international inspections.
The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) welcomed
the agreement between India and the United States, saying it would
boost non-proliferation efforts.
ElBaradei hailed the US-India deal
"This agreement is an important step towards satisfying India's growing
need for energy, including nuclear technology and fuel, as an engine
for development," IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said in a statement.
"It would also be a step forward towards universalisation of the
international safeguards regime," he said, adding it would make India
"an important partner in the non-proliferation regime."
Critics
Critics say the deal undermines non-proliferation goals but ElBaradei
called it a milestone and timely agreement "to consolidate the
non-proliferation regime, combat nuclear terrorism and strengthen
nuclear safety."
"This agreement would serve the interests of both India and the
international community," he said.
Some US lawmakers and nuclear experts have criticised the pact, saying
it weakens international safeguards, especially the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty, which India has refused to sign calling it
discriminatory.
The news was received with heavy criticism and was labelled as a
"typical double standards practice".
"Iran's right in owning nuclear technology for civil purposes is
totally denied by the US and its allies, yet, the US signs a deal with
another country granting it everything it banned Iran from!" Muhamad
Sadiq al-Husseini, political analyst in Iran told Aljazeera.net.
"It is typical double standards... Is that just because Iran is not in
ideological agreement with them? However, Colin Powell had said it that
Iran is not Brazil or South Africa to be granted nuclear technology, he
said it bluntly that they do not trust Iran."
NPT members
Soltanieh and Lincy agreed that countries which have not signed the NPT
should not get hold of nuclear technology.
"Israel is not an NPT member and it should not acquire nuclear
technology, but there is a clear tolerance in that regard from the US,"
Soltanieh said.
"It is time we need to show our seriousness, and by signing such a pact
with India we just telling people we are being selective."
Valerie Lincy,
Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control
Mounzer Sleiman, a senior military strategic analyst said the deal is
the fruit of a strategic alliance agreed last year.
"The focus on cooperation and improved relations between US and India
took a qualitative mode almost two years ago when both sides developed
what was called NSSP, The Next Step in Strategic Partnership, which was
a document that laid the ground for a way forward," he told
Aljazeera.net.
The recent deal includes an important component to address India's need
to increase its energy resources via civil nuclear technology.
Sleiman also believes the Bush administration is looking to benefit
from the latest trip to India, offering the US President a much-needed
distraction from the "never ending" crisis at home and in Iraq.
"The worsening situation in Iraq had forced President Bush last
Saturday to call seven Iraqi faction leaders - an unprecedented act,"
he said.
The pact also aims to steer India away from cooperation with Iran on a
natural gas pipeline by providing nuclear energy alternatives, Sleiman
said.
Aljazeera + Agencies
By Ahmed Janabi
You can find this article at:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/984EEC7A-4B0C-4159-8C30-A867ED349A39.htm
Bush= Miserable Failure
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