By KUNA
New Delhi : India Thursday said negotiations take time but expressed optimism of finalising the safeguards pact with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) shortly.
“We are not looking at deadlines. It takes two hands to clap. We are hoping to wrap up IAEA pact,” India’s Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters on the sidelines of the Sixth Indo-US high technology cooperation group meeting here today.
“Like last time, we are hoping to conclude the pact in the ongoing round of talks with IAEA at Vienna. When we are there, we will let you know,” he said.
Speaking at parliament today, India’s Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan said, “Discussions have taken place on all issues related to a safeguard agreement and during the first four rounds. Substantial progress has been made.” “All efforts are being made to complete the process as soon as possible. However, it is difficult to prejudge when the talks are likely to become a success,” he added.
India and IAEA Monday began talks in the Austrian capital on the safeguards agreement, imperative to operationalise the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.