Vienna: August 1, 2008 - The Indian safeguards agreement, which the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to approve on Friday, will mark the first time a United Nations body recognizes the reality, if not the legitimacy, of India possessing nuclear weapons.

But even as they join the consensus that has built up in Vienna, many of the 35 countries who sit on the IAEA board harbour misgivings about the agreement. They will make declarations during the August 1 meeting to clarify that they remain committed to the goal of getting India to give up its nuclear weapons.

In meetings and interviews with several members of the Board, none except Mexico was prepared to go on record about their reservations. “We will support India but we have mixed feelings,” Ambassador Alejandro Diaz of Mexico told The Hindu on Thursday.

“NPT not being taken into account”

“Of course, we are happy that India is coming forward and offering some of its nuclear facilities for safeguards by the Agency,” he said. “But at the same time, we feel the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty is not being taken into account.”

Mr. Diaz said that Mexico, as one of the earliest supporters of the NPT, would prefer India coming inside the treaty rather than remaining outside. “I know India is not happy at the fact that we are giving only half-way support for this initiative,” he said. “But this is the case with most members [of the IAEA Board],” he added.

“At the end, everyone will welcome India coming into the Agency’s arms as it were, but most will be unhappy about the fact that it will now continue to remain outside the NPT.”

The Mexican envoy said his delegation was working on a statement reflecting its national concerns and would likely read it out in the board meeting.

“I think you will see at least 30 statements on Friday,” he predicted. “It is true that that the IAEA is not the place to talk about India and the NPT but it provides the occasion. So I have told the Indian ambassador, ‘Please don’t be angry with me for saying India should follow the peaceful path and join the NPT’.”