New Delhi: Amid growing concerns of nuclear
weapons falling into the hands of terrorists, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh will join leaders of 42 other countries in
Washington on April 12 to discuss ways to strengthen the
global initiatives to prevent such a scenario.
The two-day Nuclear Security Summit, an initiative of US
President Barack Obama, will focus on dangers posed by
clandestine proliferation and illicit trafficking of nuclear
material and the possibility of terrorists acquiring atomic
material.
At the Summit, Singh is expected to amplify India`s
apprehensions about terrorists acquiring weapons of mass
destruction. The threat is greater in Pakistan, where nuclear
material is believed to be not too safe.
Singh is expected to underline the need for greater
impetus on securing nuclear material through physical
protection and legal mechanisms.
Singh is also likely to propose setting up of an
International Nuclear Safety Centre in India.
"You are aware of our concerns on terrorism and the
possible acquisition of nuclear devices and material by
terrorist groups," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said today
while briefing media on Singh`s visit to the US to attend the
Summit.
She said India sees the Summit and its associated
preparatory process as important elements in strengthening
international resolve to cooperate on nuclear security and
supporting the expanded use of nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes.
"This will be to India`s benefit given our concerns on
terrorism as well as our interest in the expansion of civil
nuclear energy," Rao said while underlining that nuclear
terrorism is a global challenge.
She noted that since 2002, India has been piloting a
resolution at the UN on preventing terrorists from acquiring
weapons of mass destruction.
"We are also active in the works of IAEA on setting and
enforcing standards on physical protection of nuclear material
and facilities as well as on combating illicit trafficking in
nuclear material," Rao said.
An outcome document will be issued at the end of the
Summit that will outline the national responsibilities of
countries to protect their nuclear material and weapons while
adhering to international legal instruments and norms.
India is a party to key instruments of global
architecture of nuclear security such as the Convention on the
Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005
amendment.
India also has been participating in the Global
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism of 2006.
Templates for the Summit are international conventions
which are already in place, the Foreign Secretary said, adding
many countries have very strong national programmes as well on
nuclear security.
"As a result of the summit global initiative to
safeguard nuclear security will be substantively
strengthened," Rao said.
She said India expects the document to be a
substantive one and underlined that all "responsible"
countries had the obligation to ensure that nuclear material
is safe.
Countries like Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela,
have not been invited for the Summit in Washington.
Asked whether the fact that Iran has not been invited
for the Summit meant that it was not a "responsible" country,
the Foreign Secretary replied, "Iran is a responsible
country".
She said India regards Iran as a "very important
country" with which it has substantive civilisational
relations.
The document has been negotiated over the past six
months by officials from 44 countries and representatives of
the European Union and the IAEA.
On India`s behalf, Rao led a team of Department of
Atomic Energy and MEA officials in discussions on the Summit
outcome at meetings in Tokyo and The Hague.
The officials will meet again in Washington on the eve
of the Summit.
PTI
