Germany sidesteps Indo-US nuke pact

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (R) looks on as German Chancellor Angela Merkel shakes hands with a robot during a tour of the Hanover Technology Fair in Hanover yesterday. India is the fair's partner country this year which features over 340 exhibitors. PHOTO: AFP

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with Chancellor Angela Merkel in this northern city ahead of the opening of the Hanover Technology Fair, where guest country India and Germany, the world's number three economy, hope to boost their rapidly growing trade ties.

Singh noted at a joint news conference that the booming Indian economy was driving an enormous appetite for energy -- a key issue behind the controversial India-US civilian nuclear deal.

The pact, concluded during US President George W. Bush's visit to New Delhi in March, will give India access to previously forbidden technology for the development of power stations.

India has promised in return to separate its military and civilian facilities and open most of the latter to international inspections.

The deal must be ratified by the US Congress and the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group -- of which Germany is a key member.

Merkel told reporters at the news conference with Singh that Germany would wait for the decision of the US Congress, where doubts have also been raised, before taking a definitive stand.

But she said she was encouraged by Singh's assurance that India agreed with the principles of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, although it has refused to sign it.