India reaffirms commitment to unilateral moratorium

New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) In an attempt to convince NSG members opposed to clean waiver to it, India today re-affirmed its commitment to voluntary, unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing and said the Indo-US civil nuclear initiative would strengthen the international non-proliferation regime.

As the crucial Plenary of the 45-nation nuclear cartel in Vienna completes its second and final day of deliberations, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement India has a long-standing and steadfast commitment to universal, non-discriminatory and total elimination of nuclear weapons.

''The vision of a world free of nuclear weapons which Rajiv Gandhi put before the UN in 1988, still has universal resonance,'' Mr Mukherjee said while reiterating India's stand on disarmament and non-proliferation.

He said India approaches the dialogue with the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and all its members in a spirit of cooperation that allows for an ongoing frank exchange of views on subjects of mutual interest and concern. Such a dialogue would strengthen India's relationship with other countries in the years to come, he asserted.

''Our civil nuclear initiative will strengthen the international non-proliferation regime. India believes that the opening of full civil nuclear cooperation will be good for India and for the world,'' he added.

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