India links CTBT with disarmament

October 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The exception that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) has made for India in allowing global nuclear trade and fuel commerce with it can weaken the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), says the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND). There is a thinking that the India-US (civil nuclear cooperation) agreement would jeopardise the position of NPT, Yoriko Kawaguchi, co-chair of International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament and former Japanese foreign minister, told reporters here Sunday.

September 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei Wednesday warned against the "biggest threat" of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of extremist groups and asked India to lead global efforts towards nuclear disarmament. "The biggest threat to the world remains ...

September 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Hailing India as a leading advocate for nuclear disarmament, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohammad ElBaradei Tuesday asked the world to listen to its voice on eliminating nuclear weapons. "India called for the elimination of all nuclear weapons as far back as 1948.

September 26th, 2009 UNITED NATIONS - Welcoming the renewed global debate on achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, India says it attaches "the highest priority" to nuclear disarmament and stands committed to safeguarding international peace and security. "India attaches the highest priority to the goal of nuclear disarmament and has an impeccable non-proliferation record," Indian External Affairs Minister S.M.

September 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday welcomed the government's firm stand against signing the CTBT and NPT, in the wake of UN Security Council (UNSC) passing a resolution calling upon all non-nuclear countries to sign the treaty. Talking to reporters here, party president Rajnath Singh said: The BJP is of the clear view that India should not sign the CTBT or NPT under any circumstances.

September 24th, 2009 NEW YORK - The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday that allows the global body to address nuclear threats and adopts measures curbing the export of nuclear materials. The 15-nation council adopted the resolution pushed forward by the US to open its one-day meeting on nuclear disarmament.

September 24th, 2009 NEW YORK - The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Thursday a resolution that allows the body to apply measures on violators of nuclear obligations if their actions are determined threats to the world's peace and security. The 15-nation council began a meeting on nuclear disarmament by adopting the resolution pushed forward by the United States.

September 24th, 2009 NEW YORK - UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon demanded Thursday that the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) be implemented as quickly as possible. At the opening of a two-day conference of around 100 foreign ministers in New York, Ban called for all of the nine states which had not yet ratified the treaty to begin negotiations immediately.

September 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India is concerned about a proposed UN Security Council resolution urging countries to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and has contacted Britain, Russia and France to ensure that its nuclear deals are not be affected, National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan said.

September 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India will press for the finalisation of a crucial global terrorism treaty and pitch for completing the long-pending reform of the UN Security Council during the 64th UN General Assembly next week. External Affairs Minister S.M.

July 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Setting the stage for nuclear business with India, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Sunday sought to downplay differences over nuclear issues, saying the two countries can work together for a 21st century non-proliferation regime, but left it to New Delhi to decide its position on signing the CTBT. "We will work for a 21st century non-proliferation regime.

July 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India and Germany Thursday held talks on non-proliferation issues and underlined their commitment to nuclear disarmament, officials said here. Germanys Commissioner for Disarmament and Arms Control Peter Gottwald met Vivek Katju, Special Secretary (Political and International Organisations) in the external affairs ministry, and held talks on a range of nuclear issues.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Ahead of the visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to New Delhi next month, India Wednesday underlined its credentials as a responsible nuclear power and reiterated its commitment to universal nuclear disarmament amid speculation there might be pressure on it to sign the global nonproliferation treaties. "We will welcome real action towards disarmament.

April 5th, 2009 VIENNA - President Barack Obama said Sunday the US will pursue Senate ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) to bring it into force, IRNA reported. The international treaty has been ratified by 148 countries, and it will enter into force once it is ratified by the other signatory states, including the US.

March 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - India has asserted it would not sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty - a top non-proliferation priority of the Obama administration - unless the world moves 'categorically towards nuclear disarmament in a credible time-frame.' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Special Envoy for Nuclear Issues and Climate Change, Shyam Saran, Monday acknowledged that the CTBT is 'an issue that has been seen as potentially, a contentious one in our relations with the new US administration.' 'President (Barack) Obama has made clear that he will seek Senate ratification of, which the US has signed, and India has not', he said in a keynote speech at The Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank on 'The US-India Nuclear Agreement: Expectations and Consequences,' 'He has also promised to launch a 'diplomatic effort to bring on board other states whose ratifications are required for the treaty to enter into force,'' Saran noted citing from Obama's letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in September. 'India has been a consistent votary of a CTBT but did not sign the CTBT as it eventually emerged because it was not explicitly linked to the goal of nuclear disarmament,' the former foreign secretary said.