- Title: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: India and Canada agree on nuclear cooperation deal
- Date: 30th November 2009
- Summary: PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (NOVEMBER 27, 2009) (ANI) (CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY) STEPHEN HARPER, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA TALKING TO HIS INDIAN COUNTERPART MANMOHAN SINGH (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEPHEN HARPER, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA, SAYING: "When I was in India, Prime Minister Singh and I had discussion on many things including nuclear cooperation agreement. This is very close to completion. Prime Minister and I agreed that it should be brought to conclusion very rapidly. Our officers have met and thanks to Prime Minister Singh's leadership we had got an agreement between our two countries. This is a tremendous development, a tremendous opportunity for both countries. Canada is an integrated supporter of nuclear energy fuel and India as an expanding economy has great energy needs. We will be taking time to complete the ratification process. This is a tremendous step." INDIAN DELEGATES SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANMOHAN SINGH, PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA, SAYING: "Both countries desire to negotiate in international civilian nuclear power agreement. India's need for nuclear energy is enormous just as we need a lot more energy to make a success of our development process. Prime Minister Harper has proved to be absolutely true to his words. He told me that we will have this matter looked into and that this exercise would be completed in a short period of 8-10 days. It is a tribute to the Prime Minister's great leadership and the way the civil service functions in Canada and it augurs extremely well for the development of our relations. India and Canada have been partners in development ever since India became independent�������we have a large number of Indian community in Canada, so we have all these bonds of friendship which Prime Minister Stephen Harper and I, are committed to further develop in every possible way�������So the negotiation of this Civil Nuclear Co-Operation agreement is a very important step forward in our relationship. I thank Prime Minister Harper from the core of my heart for having expedited this process�������"
- Embargoed: 15th December 2009 02:10
- Keywords:
- Location: Trinidad and Tobago
- Country: Trinidad and Tobago
- Topics: International Relations,Energy
- Reuters ID: LVADJUB2V4UXZ9LQ2VZZ6XUVGC76
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: The Prime Ministers of India and Canada say they have concluded a nuclear cooperation deal that will allow Canadian companies to resume sales of uranium and nuclear technology to India.
Ottawa and New Delhi have agreed on nuclear cooperation, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Friday (November 27), adding that ratification process will take time.
"When I was in India, Prime Minister Singh and I had discussion on many things including nuclear cooperation agreement. This is very close to completion. Prime Minister and I agreed that it should be brought to conclusion very rapidly," Harper told reporters in Port of Spain on the sidelines of the 21st summit of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The development comes eleven days after Prime Ministers Dr. Manmohan Singh and Stephen Harper had met in New Delhi to discuss the deal and other areas where both nations could enhance cooperation.
Calling the deal a 'tremendous development', Harper said official-level talks were over but completion of ratification process could take some time.
"This is a tremendous development, a tremendous opportunity for both countries. Canada is an integrated supporter of nuclear energy fuel and India as an expanding economy has great energy needs. We will be taking time to complete the ratification process," Harper said.
Canada halted nuclear co-operation with India after the country exploded a nuclear bomb in 1974. Canada and other countries lifted their moratorium on nuclear trade with India last year.
The deal means Canadian uranium producers will be able to sell to an Indian market that is seen, along with China's, as one of the top areas of growing demand for nuclear fuel.
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh applauded the agreement.
"India and Canada have partners in development ever since India became independent�������we have a large number of Indian community in Canada, so we have all these bonds of friendship which PM Harper and I are committed to further developed in every possible way�������So the negotiation of this Civil Nuclear Co-Operation is a very important step in our relationship," Singh said.
Canada is the largest exporter of uranium and India needs the nuclear fuel to meet its rapidly growing energy needs. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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