India's NSG bid dashed against the Great Wall

[Kool_SRG]

India's bid at the NSG high table was dissolved after questions were raised over the inclusion of non-NPT members into the elite group.

 

BRIEFCASE

• 1

  India's bid not discussed after question raised on inclusion of non NPT members.
   
• 2

  India cited 2008 NSG waiver to justify its application.
   
• 3

  A large number of participants supported India's membership application.
   

India's hopes for a seat at the Nuclear Suppliers' Group high table was dashed against the Great Wall of China on Friday. According to sources, China had agreed to a discussion on the Indian membership application on Thursday night subject to no decision making. But the India specific bid could not be discussed, as question of technical consequence of inclusion of non NPT members overshadowed the deliberations.

And Beijing did not stand isolated in the negotiation room. Rather the issue of procedure and criterion became a rallying point for countries like Austria, New Zealand and Ireland. Brazil which had supported India's bid in the plenary and praised its nuclear non-proliferation record stressed on a 'non-discriminatory criterion based process.'

Turkey sought flexibility for Pakistan's possible entry in future into the group. And despite Prime Minister Modi's stop over to Switzerland enroute the United States in early June and an apparent support, the Swiss too stood in support of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

 

NON-NPT NATIONS WOULD DILUTE NON- PROLIFERATION EFFORTS
 
In fact global nuclear proliferation, clandestine North Korean nuclear programs and dirty bombs dominated the plenary agenda chaired by South Korea. Apprehensions were expressed that giving the green signal to Non-NPT countries would dilute global non-proliferation efforts.  The mood against inclusion of non-NPT members was well laid out in the NSG statement.

'Participating Governments reiterated their firm support for the full, complete and effective implementation of the NPT as the cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime' the statement read.

Responding to the NSG statement, the Indian Foreign Ministry cited the 2008 NSG waiver to justify its application. "Paragraph 1 (a) of the September 2008 decision states that the decision on India contributes to the widest possible implementation of the provisions and objectives of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons," said Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup. There is thus no contradiction between the NPT and India's closer engagement with the NSG.

Only five countries that acquired nuclear weapons before 1970 were accorded the Nuclear Weapons State status in 1974. India, Pakistan, Israel and South Sudan remain the only four UN member states that have not signed the NPT, which has 190 signatories today.

STRONG SUPPORT FOR INDIA ACROSS POLITICAL SPECTRUM

North Korea had walked out of the NPT after signing it.  India Considers its nuclear weapons program as a necessary minimum deterrent from regional nuclear threats including Chinese Arsenal and Pakistani nuclear arms. There is strong support across the political spectrum for India to not give up its nuclear weapons capability and sovereignty, even as it keeps its nuclear program well guarded and has an impressive non proliferation record.

Earlier speaking to Mail Today in Seoul, Ambassasor Wang Qun, Arms Control Division Director General at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing claimed "dozens of countries shared China's concerns at the meeting." He also added that at current only memberships of NPT signatory countries like Namibia that have expressed a desire to join, are under consideration. And sometime in the future special meetings could be convened for non-NPT bids.

 

 

[shango]

[Imperial]

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