India signs nuclear pact with Argentina

The agreements were signed after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Argentine President Cristina Fernando de Kirchner in New Delhi.

The Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy was signed by Vivek Katju, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs and Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Talana.

Argentina became the seventh country with which India has signed a civil nuclear agreement after the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted a 34-year-old ban on nuclear commerce in September last year.

India has already signed similar pacts with the United States, France, Russia, Kazakhstan, Namibia and Mongolia. A joint statement issued after the talks said India and Argentina will make use of the synergies between the two countries and the vast experience of their nuclear scientists and technologists.

"Taking into account their respective capabilities and experience in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, both India and Argentina have agreed to encourage and support scientific technical and commercial cooperation for mutual benefit in this field," it said.