'Countries Like India are Ideal Models' ; Mohamed ElBaradei, Egypt's Opposition leader and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, spoke to Anika Gupta and Somnath Dasgupta. Edited excerpts:

The world's attention is focused on how Japan is tackling thecalamity brought about by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, andprodemocracy movements in West Asia and north Africa.

In Delhi, on the invitation of the India Today group for itsConclave, Mohamed ElBaradei, Egypt's Opposition leader and formerhead of the International Atomic Energy Agency, was much soughtafter.

The former diplomat, who is standing for the presidency, spoke toAnika Gupta and Somnath Dasgupta. Edited excerpts:

On running for Egypt's presidency:

We are at an early stage of the transitional period and I amfocusing on making sure that we do it right... In my view we need anew Constitution, we need to give the right to give people the rightto establish parties, to reactivate civil society, before we go intoelection...If we do it right, the impact on the Arab world will betremendous.

On help from India for the elections:

We haven't lived in a democracy, people don't even know whatdemocracy is about, how to go about elections... We are a novice inall that... I think a country like India - particularly a countrylike India [could help], because people have their own perceptionsabout the West coming to tell them, in having a hidden agenda. Idon't think anybody will think that India will have a hidden agenda.

"We are at an early stage of the transitional period and I amfocusing on making sure that we do it right."On Egypt's economy andhis plans for it:

I would like to focus on basic needs- 40 per cent of Egyptianslive on less than two dollars a day. The gap between the rich - andwe have quite a few billionaires on the Forbes 500 list - isobscene. The priorities of course are health care, food, housing andeducation. Education is No. 1. Unless you invest heavily ineducation, you will not be able to compete.

I have always advocated that we need to cooperate closely withcountries like India, South Africa, Brazil. These countries havegone through our experience, have knowledge that fits our culture,our level of development. I need to look more to the emergingpowers, and not really to the West, because, you can get cheapertechnology, you can get technology that is easily adaptable.

But this is just off the cuff. In a democracy, we have to sittogether and make sure that we make use of the best brains we have.And Egypt for one thing is not short of good, qualified people.

On the nuclear non-proliferation treaty or NPT:

It is not sustainable... you have to engage India, you have toengage Pakistan.... I think in any disarmament negotiation, Indiahas to be at the table, Pakistan has to be at the table, Israel hasto be at the table. It is a fiction to think these are not nuclearweapon states. To me it is not the question whether you are arecognised or not recognised. It is a reality that they are weaponstates, it is a reality that they have a security threat, and youhave to address the security threats, and develop a global securitysystem where everybody feels secure - one that does not rely onnuclear weapons.