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PM urges for global nuclear disarmament
{image-manmohan singh_09062008.jpg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Jun 9: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today mooted a set of seven proposals for achieving global nuclear disarmament and helping countries like India to make use of nuclear energy to meet their goals of national development and energy security.
The proposals were also aimed at checking the growing risk of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists or those driven by extreme ideologies and dealing with the increasing danger of non-state actors accessing nuclear materials and devices.Dr Singh, who made the proposals in his inaugural address at an International Conference on ''Towards a World Free of Nuclear Weapons,'' said the development of new weapon systems based on emerging technologies posed challenges to space security and provided new roles for nuclear weapons.
Also, the threat of climate change and global warming itself raised a range of security concerns, especially for India and others in the developing world, he said.
Ruling out the feasibility of ''regionalising'' nuclear disarmament, he said India's proposals would result in non-discriminatory and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons within a timeframe and offer wider options of energy sources for India and other developing nations.
Pointing out that India had witnessed rapid economic growth in the last few years and was poised for even higher growth rates in the future, he said the country would need a peaceful international environment so that ''we can focus our resources on improving the lives of our people.
''We seek a world in which power flows through the empowerment of people, and from the strength and resilience of our economy, our society, our institutions and our values.'' Among his suggestions were reaffirmation of the unequivocal commitment of all nuclear weapon states to the goal of complete elimination of nuclear weapons and reduction of the salience of nuclear weapons in security doctrines.
The
Prime
Minister
also
wanted
adoption
of
measures
by
nuclear
weapon
states
to
reduce
nuclear
danger,
including
the
risks
of
accidental
use
of
nuclear
weapons.
There
was
need
for
negotiation
of
a
global
agreement
among
nuclear
weapon
states
on
no-first-use
of
nuclear
weapons;
*
of
a
universal
and
legally-binding
agreement
on
non-use
of
nuclear
weapons
against
non-nuclear
weapon
states;
*
of
a
convention
on
the
complete
prohibition
of
the
use
of
or
threat
of
use
of
nuclear
weapons;
and
of
a
nuclear
weapons
convention
prohibiting
the
development,
production,
stockpiling
and
use
of
nuclear
weapons
and
on
their
destruction,
leading
to
the
global,
non-discriminatory
and
verifiable
elimination
of
nuclear
weapons
with
a
specified
timeframe.
We need a collective approach anchored in a universal partnership that is supported by non-governmental communities and public opinion,'' the Prime Minister added.
Dr Singh said that 20 years ago, on this day, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi addressed the Third Special Session on Disarmament of the UN General Assembly.
Speaking on the theme of ''A World Free of Nuclear Weapons,'' Mr Gandhi introduced an Action Plan calling on the international community to negotiate a binding agreement on general and complete disarmament. At the heart of the Action Plan was a commitment to eliminate all nuclear weapons in three stages by 2010.
The
Prime
Minister
said
a
review
of
developments
since
1988
presented
a
mixed
picture
on
how
far
the
world
had
moved
to
realise
the
vision
of
Rajiv
Gandhi.
On
the
one
hand,
the
end
of
the
Cold
War
had
created
an
opportunity
for
the
world
to
move
away
from
the
dangerous
doctrines
that
were
based
on
the
precept
of
Mutually
Assured
Destruction.
On
the
other
hand,
the
painful
reality
was
that
the
goal
of
global
disarmament,
based
on
the
principles
of
universality,
non-discrimination
and
effective
compliance,
still
remained
a
distant
one.
Even more disturbing, however, was the emergence of new threats and challenges to global security.
He said India's energy needs would continue to rise in the foreseeable future. ''We do not have the luxury of limiting our options of energy sources. We therefore wish to create an international environment in which nuclear technology is used not for destructive purposes but for helping us meet our national development goals and our energy security.'' India was fully aware of its responsibilities as a nuclear weapon state. It had a declared doctrine of no first-use that was based on credible minimum deterrence and had in place strict controls on export of nuclear and fissile related materials and technology. New Delhi had no intention to engage in an arms race with anyone. Above all, it was fully committed to nuclear disarmament that was global, universal and non-discriminatory in nature. The pursuit of this goal would enhance not ''only our security but the security of all other countries,'' he added.
UNI
