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| US, EU ask India to join NPT |
| Lalit K Jha/ PTI / Washington Nov 04, 2009, 13:41 IST |
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Voicing their commitment to preserving and strengthening the authority and integrity of NPT, the US and EU have asked India and other non-signatories to join the treaty, a pact New Delhi considers discriminatory.
"We are committed to preserving and strengthening the authority and integrity of the NPT," they said in a joint declaration at the conclusion of the US-EU 2009 Summit yesterday.
The nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), based on its three mutually reinforcing pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, represents a unique and irreplaceable framework for maintaining and strengthening international peace, security and stability, they said.
The United States and European Union urged NPT non- signatories, including India, to accede as non-nuclear weapon states to achieve universality.
India has refused to sign the NPT, maintaining that the treaty is discriminatory in nature.
Expressing support for entry into force of Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) at an early date and in the meantime continued observance of moratoria on nuclear tests, the joint statement sought immediate start of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), including verification provisions, on the basis of consensus agreement on a programme of work reached in May 2009.
"In the meantime, we call on all states concerned to declare and uphold an immediate moratorium on the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices," the US-EU statement said.
It welcomed the commitment of the US and Russia to the further reduction and limitation of their strategic offensive arms and to concluding, at an early date, a new legally binding agreement to replace the current Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).
Expressing full support for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its work in the field of nuclear safeguards, nuclear safety and security, the US and EU endorsed the Additional Protocol and comprehensive safeguards as the standard for NPT verification.
"We will work to ensure that the IAEA has the resources and authority to carry out its essential mandate. We remain committed to ensuring responsible development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in the best safety, security and non-proliferation conditions, by countries wishing to develop their capacities in this field," it said.
"We encourage the work of the IAEA on multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle and appreciate ongoing initiatives in this regard. We also welcome research into technologies that will improve proliferation resistance in the nuclear fuel cycle," the statement said.
The US and EU also noted with interest the initiative by France to convene an international conference on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in coordination with the IAEA.
Supporting the Obama Administration's decision to convene Nuclear Security Summit in April next year, the joint statement said it recognises that the unauthorised trade in and use of nuclear materials an immediate and serious threat to global security.
"We look forward to concrete proposals to increase the security of vulnerable nuclear materials, which could include measures to effectively investigate and prosecute instances where material has been unlawfully diverted," it said.
Stressing on the importance of the full implementation of the provisions of the NPT, the joint statement emphasised that measures are needed to demonstrate that there will be real and immediate consequences for non-compliance with the treaty or for abuse of its withdrawal provision, such as withdrawing while in violation of the treaty.
"The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery continue to represent a threat to international peace and security. The international non-proliferation regime faces major challenges. We are committed to continue to address them resolutely," it said.
Referring to the recent revelation of Iran's construction of an undisclosed facility near Qom intended for enrichment, the US and EU said it has reinforced the international community's concerns regarding the nature of Tehran's nuclear programme.
"We stress that Iran has the responsibility to restore international confidence in this regard and must fulfil its international obligations in order to demonstrate the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme," the US-EU statement said.
It urged Iran to engage seriously and constructively with China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US with the support of the High Representative of the European Union (P-5+1) to advance the dialogue on the nuclear issue that began in Geneva on October 1.
Seeking a comprehensive, long-term and appropriate solution to the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation based on Iran's compliance with UN Security Council resolutions, the statement said this continues to be the objective of their dual-track approach.
"Iran has rights, but it also has responsibilities," it said.
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