Clark gives in to Bush
New Zealand has dropped its opposition to a US-India nuclear deal after a phone call between George W Bush and Helen Clark.
India is delighted:
This followed tough negotiations in which several small NSG states agreed under heavy U.S. pressure to weaker language than they had sought to ensure India does not test atom bombs again.
“I thank the United States and other member countries of the Nuclear Suppliers Group for the role they have played in ensuring this outcome,” Singh said.
The NY Times says:
Its critics warned that such a sweeping exemption for India, which has developed an atomic weapons program but steadfastly refused to sign the global nonproliferation treaty, sets a dangerous precedent.
The NZ Government is said to have wanted three concessions:
- Action to be taken should India resume nuclear testing;
- For India to sign up to an International Atomic Energy Agency protocol extending its monitoring powers;
- A review of the exemption.
Could someone advise how many of these were formally agreed to? Is India signing up to such a protocol?
Personally I have no issues with the deal. I am just highlighting how the lofty rhetoric of the Clark administration fades way under a phone call from Duyba.
Do the Greens have anything to say?