Need for dialogue among states possessing nuke weapons: India

India has highlighted the need for a "meaningful dialogue" among all states possessing nuclear weapons to build trust and confidence for achieving the goal of nuclear disarmament.

In a written submission to the UN General Assembly,

India said it has consistently supported negotiation in the 'Conference on Disarmament' of a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention to prohibit their possession, development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, and use or threat of use.

India has also separately reiterated its readiness to negotiate a convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons.

"There is a need for a meaningful dialogue among all States possessing nuclear weapons to build trust and confidence and to reduce the salience of such weapons in international affairs and security doctrines," said Syed Akbaruddin, India's permanent representative at the UN.

Akbaruddin, associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, reiterated India's commitment to the goal of a "nuclear-weapon-free world" and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

India's submission made in May is part of a UN report made public yesterday. It also includes submissions of several other countries.

Five countries considered to be "nuclear-weapon states" (NWS) under the terms of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) are the US, France, Britain, Russia and China. Other states with nuclear weapons are India, North Korea and Pakistan.

In its submission, India said it is convinced that the goal of nuclear disarmament can be achieved by a step-by-step process "underwritten by a universal commitment" and an agreed multilateral framework that is global and non-discriminatory.

In its submission, India reiterated its recommendations of several specific steps to achieve the goal of nuclear disarmament.

Prominent recommendations include unequivocal commitment of all nuclear-weapon states to the goal of complete elimination of nuclear weapons and reduction of the importance of nuclear weapons in the security doctrines.

India seeks measures by nuclear-weapon states to reduce nuclear danger and calls for negotiation of a global agreement among nuclear weapon states on "no-first-use" of nuclear- weapons.

It has suggested negotiation of a universal and legally binding agreement on non-use of nuclear weapons against non- nuclear-weapon states.

Among other things India favours negotiation of a convention on the complete prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.