India seeks consensus on non-discriminatory nuke disarmament

Dharam Shourie

United Nations, Oct 18 (PTI) Vowing to work for a world
free of atomic arms, India has asked the U.N. General Assembly
to help forge consensus on moving towards non-discriminatory
universal nuclear disarmament at a time when the concept is
gaining momentum.

India has consistently attached highest priority to
nuclear disarmament, the country's delegate Vishvjit P.
Singh said at the Assembly's Committee on Disarmament and
International Security.

Commending the "holistic" plan of action for nuclear
weapon free world presented by former Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi in 1988, he said that it is by far the most
comprehensive initiative which remains valid even 20 years
later.

Singh re-introduced three resolutions on behalf of India
on convention on prohibition of nuclear weapons, reducing
nuclear danger and preventing terrorists from acquiring
nuclear weapons. Like previous years, the resolutions would be
discussed by the Committee and then by the General Assembly.

Moving the resolutions, Singh said that over the years
several international groups and bodies have lent their voice
in favour of nuclear disarmament, including the United Nations
General Assembly, International Court of Justice and national
Parliaments of several countries.

The goal of a world free of nuclear weapons, he said,
has received the support of eminent people like former U.S.
Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Shultz;
ex-Defence Secretary William Perry and former Senate Armed
Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn - all "knowledgeable and
experienced".


While individual merits or otherwise of the various
proposals need to be discussed, Singh said, it must be
recognised that shifting currents of informed opinion are now
moving even stronger in favour of nuclear disarmament.

This provides the United Nations General Assembly an
opportunity to create new political momentum and for the U.N.
disarmament machinery to bring about coherence, integration
and universal consensus on the way forward, he said.

The Rajiv Gandhi plan called for binding commitment by
all nations to eliminating nuclear weapons in stages,
participation of all nuclear weapon states in the process of
nuclear disarmament, demonstration of good faith in building
of confidence through tangible progress towards the common
goal of nuclear disarmament and changes in the doctrines,
policies and institutions for a world free of nuclear weapons.

It also provided framework for negotiations for a
time-bound commitment for complete nuclear disarmament.

The resolution on 'Convention on the Prohibition of
the Use of Nuclear Weapons,' Singh explained, reflects the
belief of the co-sponsors that a multilateral, universal and
legally binding instrument prohibiting the use or threat of
use of nuclear weapons will contribute to the mitigation of
the nuclear threat and create a climate for negotiations for
an agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

"It will, thus, serve as an important interim measure
until we reach agreement on a step-by-step process for the
complete elimination of nuclear weapons," he said.

The operative part of the resolution renews the call to
the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations to
reach agreement on an international convention on prohibiting
the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any
circumstances.

The resolution on 'Reducing Nuclear Danger' highlights
that the hair-trigger posture of nuclear forces carries the
unacceptable risk of unintentional or accidental use of
nuclear weapons, which could have catastrophic consequences.

The operative part of the resolution calls for a review
of nuclear doctrines, as also immediate steps to reduce the
risk of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons,
including through the de-alerting and de-targeting of nuclear
weapons; and requests the nuclear weapon states to take the
necessary measures to reduce nuclear dangers.

The third resolution on 'Measures to Prevent Terrorists
from Acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction" underlines the
concerns of the international community and calls upon all UN
member states to take measures aimed at preventing terrorists
from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

It stresses that the international response to this
threat needs to be at national, multilateral and global level.

This year the resolution has been updated to take into
account the 'Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism'
launched jointly by the Russian Federation and the United
States.