Smaller NSG nations for changes in N-deal?

The Times of India
Aug 13, 2008

NEW DELHI: Switzerland and Austria are gearing up to put in amendments — and conditions — on the Indian nuclear deal during the NSG debates in Vienna next week. According to sources, they may be joined by Ireland, Norway, New Zealand and the Netherlands. Although Austria is obsessively anti-nuclear, even refusing to have nuclear plants near its borders, it is Switzerland that is proving to be a bigger problem. In Switzerland too, opinions are divided — while the foreign ministry in Berne might be reasonably supportive, it's the cantons (states) that call the shots in Switzerland and the opposition there has not been overcome yet. The "problem" is acute enough to warrant foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon to visit Berne to persuade the Swiss authorities over the last few days. Simultaneously, an envoy was dispatched to New Zealand to work on the Kiwis, who also have a strong non-proliferation lobby and an election to boot. The PM's special envoy Shyam Saran will accompany Menon and DAE's Anil Kakodkar to Vienna next week.