Re: MTN - Marathon Resources
Price might be down but the real selling of the stuff hasn't really started yet. Another buyer has lined up for Aussie uranium.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22248428-5003500,00.html
Nuclear proliferation no laughing matter
By staff writers and wires
August 15, 2007 11:50am
THE Federal Government's reported decision to sell uranium to India is wrong, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd says.
The National Security Committee of federal cabinet last night reportedly decided to allow uranium shipments to India despite the fact that it is not a signatory to the international nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).
Under the deal, Australian inspectors will be allowed to check that the uranium is not used for military purposes.
Mr Rudd said the decision to bypass the NTP would send the wrong message to the international community.
"It is a very bad development indeed when we have the possibility of the Government of Australia stepping outside the non-proliferation treaty, saying it's OK to sell uranium to a country which isn't a signatory to the NTP," Mr Rudd said.
Mr Rudd said Australia should have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the NTP.
"Nuclear weapons proliferation is not a laughing matter, it's a serious matter that's why the NTP exists," he said.
The Greens raised fears today that Australia is fuelling the production of nuclear weapons that could reach here, as India and the US disagreed over whether India is allowed to carry out nuclear tests.
"That's all a farce, the Indians themselves have said that will free us up to put the other uranium we've got into our nuclear weapon system," Senator Brown said.
"Australia is directly fuelling the production of nuclear weapons for a country which will soon have rockets that will reach Australia."
Yesterday India said its nuclear deal with the US would not affect its right to carry out nuclear tests if necessary.
Senator Brown said the decision to sell uranium to India would contribute to nuclear tensions between India and Pakistan and the spread of nuclear weapons around the world.
"It will also promote the building of nuclear weapons and rockets by Pakistan and across the border we're giving uranium to China and to Russia," he said.
US threat
The US State Department said today it would scrap a landmark nuclear deal with India if New Delhi conducted an atomic weapons test.
The statement came as the two governments gave different interpretations of the controversial nuclear deal's recently adopted operating agreement, also known as the 123 agreement.
"The proposed 123 agreement has provisions in it that in an event of a nuclear test by India, then all nuclear co-operation is terminated,'' State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
There is also a "provision for return of all materials, including reprocessed material covered by the agreement,'' he said.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told parliament yesterday that the agreement would not affect the Asian giant's military program or any plans to test nuclear weapons.
"The agreement does not in any way affect India's right to undertake future nuclear tests, if it is necessary.''
"There is no question that we will ever compromise, in any manner, our independent foreign policy. We shall retain our strategic autonomy,'' he said.