ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Stop N-tests, disarmament conference tells India, Pak

Fortysix nations demanded today that India and Pakistan immediately cease testing nuclear arms and join in the global move to eliminate the weapons.

"The testing of nuclear weapons by India and Pakistan is totally irreconcilable with claims by both countries that they are committed to nuclear disarmament,'' said a joint statement from members of the Conference on Disarmament.

"The tests blatantly undermine'' attempts to halt nuclear proliferation and threaten to undermine efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons, the statement said.

Among the countries that backed the statement before an emergency meeting of the 61-nation conference were Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, all declared nuclear powers.

The statement, read by Clive Pearson, New Zealand's ambassador to the conference, said India's and Pakistan's explosions in May were "provocative and dangerous acts.''

"Indulging in competitive manoeuvres... belongs to a bygone age,'' said Pearson. "Tensions will only be resolved permanently through constructive dialogue and negotiation.''

He said, "It is now crucial that India and Pakistan announce immediately a cessation to all further testing of these weapons, renounce their nuclear weapons programmes and sign and ratify unconditionally the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.''

Also supporting the demand were Japan, South Korea, South Africa and European and Latin American nations, but conspicuously missing were Middle Eastern countries.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report