Australia supports India's NSG membership

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Monday announced that her country will support India's full membership for the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Bishop, who is here to discuss cooperation in areas of civil nuclear energy, anti- terrorism, security and defence with her Indian counterpart Salman Khurshid, told media that she was pleased to announce the decision of Australian government to support the Indian membership for the NSG. "I was pleased to inform the Indian External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid, of the decision of the Australian government to support India's full membership of the NSG, just as we will support India's participation in all of the major export control regimes", she told media. "Australia's decision acknowledges India's emergence as a major producer and potential exporter of nuclear energy and technology", She said that it is appropriate given India's strategic importance in the region and globally and India's record of non- proliferation. Both Australia and India are engaged in the ongoing civil nuclear talks which will hold the next round of negotiations on November 26 and 27. The civil nuclear cooperation, once agreed, would provide for the sale of Australian uranium to India for the power generating requirements. Australia also joined in the NSG consensus decision in 2008 to grant India a waiver from its existing rules, which had prevented India from engaging in the international nuclear trade with NSG members, Indian media reported. They added that other NSG members, including the US, UK, France and Russia, have expressed support for India's membership.