EU uncertain on backing Indo-US N-deal

The European Union on Thursday said it understood India's increasing energy needs, but gave no commitment on supporting the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.

The 25-member European Union was, however, making efforts to evolve a common policy on the issue, Finland Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, whose country holds the EU Chair, said in Helsinki at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after their talks.

The Indo-US nuclear deal, terrorism, UN reforms and trade ties figured prominently in their parleys. Noting that as EU Chair, he could not spell out Finland's individual position on the deal, Vanhanen said, "We do not yet have EU's position on the US-India nuclear cooperation... we are trying to get EU's common position."

Asked if the North Korean nuclear test could affect the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Dr Singh said India had deplored Pyongyong's action along with other members of the international community.

He said the six-party dialogue on North Korea should succeed and 'every country should make a determined effort to find solutions to the vexed issue through dialogue

and discussion.'

Vanhanan said it was important for Pyongyang to come back to the six-party talks as it is the only way to solve the problem and asked it to stop its nuclear weapons programme. Vanhanen, whose country is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, said he had learnt about the nuclear deal from Dr Singh during his discussions and understood very well that energy consumption in India was increasing rapidly.

"Every country has the right to decide which kind of energy to use," the Finnish Premier said, adding: "I hope India could take part in all those international agreements, which we have in the field of nuclear energy."

Vanhanen said India had an 'enormous countryside and its needs for energy resources were big.' He said Dr Singh had asked him about Finland's experience with regard to meeting energy needs. In Finland, 20 per cent of energy comes from bio-gas, he added.

The two leaders also discussed the problem of terrorism affecting the world after which Vanhanen said the scourge was a 'global challenge,' which should be countered with widest possible cooperation among the world community.