Swiss President discuss US-India nuke deal with Manmohan Singh

Visiting Switzerland President Micheline Calmy-Rey met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday evening and reportedly discussed various aspects of the US-India civil nuclear agreement.

Switzerland, which is a key member of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and also a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, can provide the approval India needs to break out of its isolation vis-à-vis global ivil nuclear energy commerce.

“I requested the Prime Minister to have an Indian expert to explain the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal,” Ms Calmy-Rey said after the interaction.

Dr. Singh and Ms Calmey-Rey also discussed the feasibility of an economic agreement similar to a free trade agreement covering goods, services, investments, intellectual property and trade facilitation.

India is Switzerland’s fourth-largest trading partner in Asia.

Switzerland is also one of the 10 main foreign investors in India, with more than 140 joint ventures operating in the country. Both countries also have a scientific and technical cooperation agreement as well as joint research programmes for projects in life sciences, information technologies and biotechnology.

Switzerland has had a programme of cooperation and development with India since 1961. This programme is being restructured to orient it towards cooperation primarily in the fields of energy and climate, science and technology by 2010.

President Calmey-Rey also met Vice President Hamid Ansari, Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi and the Leader of Opposition L K Advani.

The visit of the Swiss President to India follows a visit to Switzerland by President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in May 2005. (ANI)