Indian nuclear energy benefits for 'all'

NEW DELHI, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the benefits of atomic energy should not remain confined to a "privileged few."

The Press Trust of India reported Wednesday that Singh made his remarks at a forum where International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohammad ElBaradei received the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize. India is actively soliciting international cooperation in its efforts to undertake a major expansion of its nuclear energy program.

Singh told journalists, "We need the concerted and collective efforts of the international community to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy as widely as possible."

Commenting on ElBaradei's accomplishments as IAEA head, Singh remarked that India's civil nuclear power initiative benefitted the "enlightened approach" of ElBaradei, saying, "A major milestone in this process was the conclusion of India's safeguards agreement and its additional protocol with the IAEA.

"This gives India the possibility of additionally accessing a whole range of technologies and resources from the rest of the world. It also enables the global nuclear industry to benefit from India's technical and industrial expertise."