Prime Minister John Howard said on Thursday Australia would stick to its policy of banning uranium sales to India but he would seek more details on a US-India nuclear deal when he visits Washington this week.
Howard told Reuters in an interview he would raise the issue with US President George W. Bush, but that Australia would not sell uranium to India because it had not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"I will only discuss it to the extent that I will be seeking further information about the arrangement between America and India," said Howard in his office in Parliament House, Canberra.
"We are not currently disposed to change our policy in relation to selling uranium to countries that aren't party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," he said.
India wants to buy uranium from Australia, which has more than 40 percent of the world's known reserves of the mineral, and Howard said Australia was keen for further uranium sales.
"As one of the major exporters of uranium, we remain interested in sales of uranium, subject to proper safeguards," he said. Howard leaves on Friday for the United States, Canada and Ireland.
Australia has sent a team to India to find out more about the deal that will see New Delhi receive US nuclear technology in return for separating its military and civil nuclear operations and opening civilian plants to international inspections.
"The same group will go on to Washington to talk to the Americans about that arrangement," said Howard. "But it doesn't, of itself, indicate or flag a change of policy."
Howard, who will attend an official dinner at the White House and address the parliaments of Canada and Ireland, also said he plans to discuss the broader international situation with Bush, in particular Iran and Australian and US ties with China.
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