Describing the Nuclear Suppliers Group's waiver as a 'passport' for India to conduct nuclear trade with the international community, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said that New Delhi will wait for ratification of the 123 Agreement by the United States Congress before entering into bilateral agreements with other supplier countries.
India gets NSG waiver by consensus
"As far as the procedure is concerned, now we shall have to wait for the ratification of the 123 agreement between India and the US," Mukherjee said.
"...the approval by the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the India-specific safeguards agreement and the NSG waiver are the passports to enter into international nuclear trade," he said.
NSG nod elicits mixed reactions
"Through the bilateral agreements with the supplying countries, we will actually enter into the trade. After the ratification of the US Congress, this process will begin," the minister added.
He said that the US Congress requires two documents, namely the India-specific safeguards agreement approved by the Board of Governors of the IAEA and amendment to NSG guidelines by providing waiver to India, after which they can ratify the 123 Agreement.
We'll now move forward towards final step: Mulford
India would be able to enter into bilateral agreements with other countries after these procedures are completed, Mukherjee said.