IAEA Consensus On Safeguards By securing a unanimous approval at the IAEA,India has cleared the first big hurdle to the Big Deal. Action now shifts to the NSG,where India will be pushing for a waiver Our Political Bureau NEW DELHI IN A significant vote of confidence for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, the IAEA board of governors on Friday passed the India-specific safeguards agreement by consensus, allowing India to take the next step of seeking a Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver. Bringing the nuclear deal one step closer to the finish line, the 35 members of the IAEA board of governors agreed by consensus to approve the safeguards agreement after a five-hour discussion. The fact that the board agreed by consensus is significant as this means that hardliner non-proliferation countries like Ireland, Austria and Switzerland, which are also NSG members, supported the safeguards agreement. Even Pakistan, which had been threatening to push for a vote in the IAEA, quietly supported the safeguards agreement in the end. "This is a significant step towards India's integration into the nuclear mainstream. This is a recognition of India's impeccable credentials on non-proliferation,'' said minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma. However, it is understood that during discussions, Ireland and Switzerland raised certain queries over the safeguards agreement. But in the end, both gave their stamp of approval for the India-specific safeguards agreement. Sources pointed out that the main thing is that even countries with strong non-proliferation roots approved the agreement in spite of their reservations and well-known NPT positions. ''The approval of India's safeguards agreement by the IAEA board of governors is a key step towards implementing the US-India civil nuclear cooperation initiative,'' said US ambassador David C Mulford in a statement. The smooth passage of the safeguards agreement in the IAEA is also a positive development for obtaining an NSG waiver. Diplomatic efforts yield results INDIAN officials had wanted the board of governors to approve the agreement by a consensus as this would substantially improve India's chances of getting a consensus within the NSG, which now holds the key to dismantling the denial regime. ''We hope the NSG meeting will take place within the next three weeks,'' said Mr Sharma. The success in the IAEA also shows that the diplomatic initiative of the US, supplemented by Indian efforts, are yielding results. Nevertheless, the NSG step is expected to be the most tricky with the US and India still not on the same page on the exemption draft. India is pushing for a ''clean and unconditional'' waiver while the US is pushing for a ''clean'' waiver. The US and India will have to agree on the draft before it can be circulated to NSG members. India has said it is not satisfied with the draft prepared by the US. Reports from Colombo, quoting unnamed officials, said India would not like any non-proliferation concerns reflected in the NSG waiver. Officials said if any country has concerns, it could be addressed at a bilateral level. "We want to sort out the issue (with the US) before the NSG takes up the matter,' an official was quoted as saying. The United States, which has been quietly working behind the scenes, merely reaffirmed its aim of working with India to get an NSG waiver. ''We will work vigorously with the government of India to obtain an India-specific exception in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and final US Congressional approval,'' Mr Mulford said. Tabling the agreement before the governors, IAEA director-general Mohamed El Baradei, a strong advocate of the nuclear deal, said the safeguards agreement was well within "all the legal requirements' of the IAEA. "It (agreement) satisfies India's needs while maintaining all the agency's legal requirements.' Talking about the ''umbrella' nature of the agreement, he said such an approach could be used for other safeguards agreements. After all the steps are successfully concluded for operationalising the nuclear deal, India will sign the safeguards agreement with the IAEA. Under the plan, India will place 14 reactors in stages under IAEA safeguards by 2014. Mr Baradei said India will notify the agency, which in turn would inform the IAEA members when facilities are submitted for safeguards. Mr Baradei also revealed that India and the IAEA have started discussions on an additional protocol. These are not comprehensive or full-scope safeguards (unlike with NPT member states)... But it (agreement) satisfies India's needs while maintaining all agency's legal requirements Mohamed ElBaradei IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL