N-deal: Saran off to get support from Sweden, Norway

In an effort to muster maximum support in the Nuclear Suppliers Group for the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran has embarked on a visit to Norway and Sweden, which have reservations with regard to the agreement.

Saran, accompanied by senior officials from the External Affairs Ministry and Department of Atomic Energy, will seek to persuade these countries to support allowing of international nuclear trade with India.

Under the civil nuclear deal, firmed up in March during the visit to New Delhi by US President George W Bush, the 45-country NSG is required to endorse through consensus the agreement so that member countries could open trade with India in this area.

During the four-day stay beginning on Wednesday, the Indian side is expected to cite the country's impeccable record with regard to non-proliferation and unilateral commitments given by New Delhi to maintain it in the future, officials said.

Several NSG countries like Britain, France and Russia besides the US have expressed their approval of the deal but some of its members, particularly the Scandinavian nations, have reservations.

After India attains confidence of getting support from maximum NSG member countries, a special session of the grouping would be called to decide on the deal. On its part, the US is also trying to convince the NSG countries to end restrictions on nuclear trade with India.