Difficult to fix time frame for N-deal: Pranab

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Last updated on: July 24, 2008 21:45 IST

The United Progressive Alliance government on Thursday expressed hope that India will get the support of all member countries during its negotiations on the nuclear deal but noted that it would be difficult to fix an exact timeframe for making the agreement a reality.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency is likely to meet on August 1 to discuss the India-specific safeguards agreement but he would not like to make any premature comment on its outcome.

                                                           Coverage: The Nuclear Deal

"Because first we shall have to get the approval of the IAEA's board of governors for the  India-specific safeguards agreement...if we get the approval in respect of India then it would be taken up by the Nuclear Supplier's Group," he said.

"The exact timeframe is difficult to make but we do hope that we will get the support of the countries," he added.

Mukherjee added that there was no question of  'fast-tracking or slow-tracking' on the deal, when asked whether the confidence vote would now propel the government to speed ahead with the implementation of the nuclear deal.

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