---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: willy <[email protected]>
Date: 6 December 2010 22:14
Subject: Pl fwd: India: N-Liability, reactors discussed
To: Sukla Sen <[email protected]>




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 9:02 PM
Subject: [rezo-nuke-info] India: N-Liability, reactors discussed
To: [email protected]


PM hosts dinner for Sarkozys; N-Liability, reactors discussed

NDTV Correspondent <http://www.ndtv.com/search?q=NDTV+Correspondent>,
Updated: December 06, 2010 00:54 IST

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/pm-hosts-dinner-for-sarkozys-nuclear-liability-reactors-on-the-agenda-70708


On the guest list were Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee, SM
Krishna, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Speaker Meira
Kumar, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and the National Security Advisor,
Shiv Shankar Menon.

Prime Minister Singh and President Sarkozy met for 30 minutes before dinner.
NDTV has learnt that a preliminary deal with the French company Areva is
likely to be signed during this visit, and the overall agreement will be
worked out in 6 months. (Read: Nuclear agreement with Areva likely to be
signed)<http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/nuke-agreement-likely-to-be-signed-during-sarkozys-visit-70701>

During the meeting, the French leader is understood to have raised the issue
relating to the civil nuclear liability legislation to which he was told
that the concerns, if any, will be addressed.


Apart from civil nuclear cooperation, the two leaders are likely to discuss
a host of issues, including terrorism, during their official talks on
Monday.

France is also likely to back India's membership to the Nuclear Supplier
group (NSG) formally, in a joint statement expected to be issued on Monday.

Sarkozy's support to India for the NSG entry comes nearly a month after US
President Barack Obama supported New Delhi's full membership in multilateral
groupings like the NSG, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MCTR), the
Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement.

"Nuclear energy will now be the focus of Indo french cooperation,"said
President Sarkozy in his speech on Saturday at the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) at Bangalore.(Watch: President Sarkozy at
ISRO)<http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/sarkozy-supports-indias-bid-for-permanent-unsc-seat/179684>

But President Sarkozy has now said that India should comply with
international conventions, which put the responsibility heavily on the
operator.  His comment that he hopes that India's Nuclear Liability Bill
will follow the Vienna convention in the event of a nuclear incident may
become a  speed breaker in negotiations.

The Vienna convention says the liability of the operator is absolute,
irrespective of fault. The operators of the reactors in this case would be
the government-run Nuclear Power Corporation. But India's Nuclear Liability
bill says foreign suppliers could also be liable. In this case, it is Areva,
the company in which the French Government holds a majority stake.

Areva has been cautious so far and haven't quite stated their position
clearly. "We will comply. Issues are there but we will comply," says Anne
Lauvergeon, Areva's CEO.(Watch: Exclusive look at Areva's
reactors)<http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/indo-french-deal-the-largest-nuclear-reactor/179904>

While there have been protests by local residents and activists against the
proposed 10,000 mega-watt plant at Jaitapur in Maharashtra, the French
haven't turned the issue of the foreign supplier's liability into a dispute.
(Watch: Dissent against the Jaitapur
project)<http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/do-we-need-to-import-french-reactors/179646>

The French are the first India is trying to sign a deal with, for the supply
of nuclear reactors. They are in advanced stages of negotiations, and the
sources have told NDTV its at a point of no return.

Over the next 24 hours, talks between the Indian and French leaders will be
watched closely. How the details will be hammered out and which way will the
deal go,  will indicate whether India is able to get suppliers to come
around, without making any amendments to the Nuclear Liability Bill.



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The information given on the list are not always representative of the Reseau 
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