Namibia's President Hage Geingob and the visiting Indian President Pranab Mukherjee agreed in principle Thursday that India should send technical atomic energy experts to help with issues affecting uranium exports. This was revealed by India's secretary economic relations Amar Sinha soon after the meeting held by the two leaders in Windhoek.

Although there is treaty between Namibia and India regarding uranium exports, this is being done because Namibia is a signatory to the African Union members that are against dealing with non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty signatories.

According to Sinha, Mukherjee told Geingob that India has a nuclear fuel supply deal with 12 countries even though it is a non-nuclear proliferation treat. The two leaders also discussed the United Nations Security Council reforms, with Geingob saying that Namibia supports India's bid for membership.

Mukherjee bemoaned the fact that despite India being the sixth most populous country and Africa as home to 54 countries are both not represented in Security Council. "It is also important for our two countries to maintain regular consultations on vital issues such as the need for the reform of the United Nations Security Council and other multinational institutions, international terrorism, sustainable development and climate change," Geingob said.

A memorandum of understanding could be signed very soon where Indian army members will assist their Namibian counterparts master the use of signals and communications.

An Information Communications Technology Centre of Excellence will be set up after the signing of a memorandum of understanding the two leaders signed.

Mukherjee pledged to send 1,000 tonnes of rice as India's gesture of goodwill towards drought relief as well as 20,000 U.S dollars worth of medicine for a clinic named after the slain Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The clinic in the northen part of the country was built at a cost of 50,000 U.S. dollars that was received by Namibia's former president Sam Nujoma from the African Leadership Prize for Hunger in Africa.

Source: Xinhua News Agency