France welcomes India as MTCR member

French foreign ministry said that New Delhi adherence will contribute to better regulating the proliferation of equipment

With India joining the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) on Monday, the French Government has hail the development and welcomed New Delhi's commitment to combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

In a statement released on Monday, the French foreign ministry said that India's adherence will contribute to better regulating the proliferation of equipment that could be used in missiles or drones capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.

Meanwhile, the MTCR has welcomed India's accession into the Regime saying India's membership has been thoroughly discussed over the years, ultimately resulting in a consensus decision by all MTCR members to offer India membership.

"As all formal procedures for membership have now been finalised, the Chairman of the joint Netherlands-Luxembourg Chairmanship of the Missile Technology Control Regime, Ambassador Piet de Klerk (NL), in close consultation with the French MTCR Point of Contact, is pleased to announce today that the Republic of India now formally is the 35th member of the Regime," the statement said.

The MTCR asserting that India's membership will strengthen the international efforts to prevent proliferation of delivery systems (ballistic missiles or unmanned aircraft) capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.

"The MTCR looks forward to India's full participation in the Regime, including the upcoming annual plenary meeting of the MTCR in the Republic of Korea in October 2016," the statement added.

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America are the 35 members in the MTCR.

Earlier on Monday, foreign secretary S Jaishankar signed the document of accession into MTCR in the presence of Ambassadors of France, The Netherlands and Luxembourg in the national capital.

Ambassador-designate of France Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of the Netherlands to India Alphonsus Stoelinga and Luxembourg's Deputy Head of Mission to India Laure Huberty were present on the occasion.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Sunday said New Delhi had applied for membership of the MTCR last year, adding all the procedural formalities have been completed.

The MTCR membership will enable India to buy high-end missile technology and also enhance its joint ventures with Russia.

The aim of the MTCR is to restrict the proliferation of missiles, complete rocket systems, unmanned air vehicles and related technology for those systems capable of carrying a 500 kilogram payload for at least 300 kilometres as well as systems intended for the delivery of weapons of mass destruction.