NEW DELHI, 7 October 2006 — Visiting India, just ahead of the India-European Union (EU) summit, scheduled for Helsinki (Oct. 13), EU President Josep Borrell Fontelles has voiced support for India’s quest for civilian nuclear energy, but with a hitch. India should first sign the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).
“The European Parliament expects India to sign the NPT. It will help a lot to establish international civilian nuclear cooperation with India,” Fontelles said. Justifying EU’s concern regarding nonproliferation, he said: “We support India’s growing need for civilian nuclear energy. But Europe is very worried about Iran and the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology.”
