Israel-Iran
Israeli President Shimon Peres said Sunday he opposes a military strike on Iran and prefers the use of international economic sanctions to persuade Tehran to halt its nuclear enrichment programme.
“A military operation is not necessary. I do not think the Americans think in these terms because they have many other cards to play,” Peres told Israeli public radio after a meeting with US Vice President Dick Cheney in Italy.
Yahoo news 7th September 2008 more >>
Russia-Iran
Russia is considering increasing its assistance to Iran’s nuclear programme in response to America’s calls for Nato expansion eastwards and the presence of US Navy vessels in the Black Sea delivering aid to Georgia.
The Kremlin is discussing sending teams of Russian nuclear experts to Tehran and inviting Iranian nuclear scientists to Moscow for training, according to sources close to the Russian military.
Times online 7th September 2008 more >>
India
India’s ‘legal’ right to conduct nuclear tests has been fully preserved and the country has not made any commitment in this regard to gain the waiver from the NSG to participate in nuclear commerce, Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission said on Saturday.
“There is no explicit mention of (nuclear) testing (in the NSG waiver),” he said here making it clear that the exemption granted to India by the 45-nation cartel met all requirements of the Department of Atomic Energy.
Mathaba 6th September 2008 more >>
While welcoming the decision of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to adjust its guidelines to enable full civil nuclear cooperation with India, Prime Minister Dr Mahmohan Singh Saturday said, ‘It is a recognition of India’s impeccable non-proliferation credentials and its status as a state with advanced nuclear technology’.
In a statement, the prime minister said it marks the end of India’s decades-long isolation from the nuclear mainstream and of the technology denial regime.
He said that it is a recognition of India’s impeccable non-proliferation credentials and its status as a state with advanced nuclear technology.
Mathaba 6th September 2008 more >>