NEW DELHI, March 28 (UPI) -- India has sought South Africa's support for the next meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.
South Africa, a key member of the 45-member elite nuclear group, has reservations about India being given a special status.
South Africa is concerned that India is being accommodated by other members of the NSG despite not being a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty. South Africa renounced its nuclear program to sign the non-proliferation treaty.
The Indian Express newspaper said Tuesday that India made a detailed presentation of the Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal to South Africa.
"The issue was taken up by Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma with South African President Thabo Mbeki," an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said.
The foreign office said President Mbeki showed a keen interest in the presentation and was positive in his outlook, but reserved any opinion in the matter.
"(Mbeki) promised to look into the issue in consultation with his officials," said an unidentified foreign ministry official.
India is reaching out to South Africa and Brazil, while the United States, Russia and France are attempting to garner support for India at the NSG.
Junior Indian Foreign Minister Anand Sharma expressed India's willingness to start the first Indo-African dialogue on a continental scale. The foreign ministry said President Mbeki supported the idea and felt India could be a positive force in promoting peace, democracy and development.
Sharma is now to take up the nuclear issue with Brazil, which is said to be skeptical, and aims to convince them that India is worthy of a special status with regard to nuclear energy and fuel.
