NZ satisfied with Indian nuke commitments

Wellington: India's clear commitment not to resume testing of nuclear weapons or spread atomic technology helped convince key countries to back a deal allowing it to trade in peaceful nuclear technology, New Zealand's leader said on Monday.

''We're satisfied that our concerns have been addressed,'' Prime Minister Helen Clark told reporters.

New Zealand was one of three holdouts who sought to have the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) block a plan for the United States to sell peaceful nuclear technology to India, which has been subject to international bans because it has refused to sign the international nonproliferation treaty.

The group, which governs the legal world trade in nuclear components and know-how, on Saturday signed off on the deal after three days of contentious talks in Vienna and some concessions to countries insistent on holding India to its promises of not starting a new nuclear arms race.

Initially, more than a dozen nations including China and Japan sought to block approval by the nuclear group, which operates by consensus.

But in negotiations, that bloc dwindled to three, viz. Austria, Ireland and New Zealand, who expressed grave misgivings about bending the rules to accommodate the U.S. sales to India.

All three relented on Saturday amidst intense lobbying.

Clark said she was one of several heads of government who was called by U.S. President George W. Bush during the talks.

''In the written statement India has released, it states that it remains committed to a voluntary, unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing,'' Clark said. ''So there is a clear expectation that India will not test.''

Any resumption of testing could trigger a meeting and cause the decision to be reviewed, she added.

Other assurances India has given relate to nuclear enrichment, reprocessing, not spreading sensitive technology and being prepared to sign and adhere to an additional protocol opening its civilian nuclear reactors to international inspection, Clark said.

U.S. officials have said that selling peaceful nuclear technology to India would bring the country's atomic program under closer scrutiny and boost international nonproliferation efforts. The plan still needs congressional approval in Washington.