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New
Delhi, 31 May 2005
As
predicted the outcome of the NPT Review Conference
came to naught. One did not realise that Diplomats
could spend one month and millions of dollars and
still achieve nothing. The NPT is a limping horse
that need not be flayed any more as the nuclear
horse has fled –– the Genie is out of the bottle
–– and we are convinced that Iran, North Korea
and Brazil will go nuclear as they are all a screw
driver turn away form producing the bomb.
If
China continues to browbeat Japan, that nation will
demand to be free from US clutches for defence and
then will go nuclear. That may be good for India.
India and Pakistan announced their status, steered
secret programmes and India did it with quiet
finesse. The financing and how much was spent will
be a mystery as late PM Narasimha Rao said that he
had briefed PM Vajpayee. We wonder if he had
similarly briefed PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia
Gandhi, as now they are the de facto C’s-in-C of
the Indian Armed Forces.
With
South Africa’s Denel in trouble with MOD and their
Defence Minister not being invited for a joint
meeting, the Brazil, South Africa and India Defence
Agreement saw some strains at the NPT Conference. An
article from Indian Express and American views that
India should be accepted into the treaty is a ploy
to get India closer to a seat in the UN Security
Council. PM Manmohan Singh is due to visit UK and
USA in July and he should be able to steer clear of
this issue. If he is accompanied by EAM Natwar Singh
then our EAM should continue to sing his disarmament
song, which he is so good at doing.
In
India a PTI report quoted US Principal Deputy
Assistant Secretary for non-proliferation, Andrew K.
Sammel, as saying in a statement to the
2005 review conference on NPT in New York that:
"The
United States shares the view that the conference
should reinforce the goal of universal NPT
adherence. That goal is for Israel, India and
Pakistan to eventually join the treaty as
non-nuclear weapon states."
And
further:
"Let
me reiterate that the United States remains
committed to NPT universality. We recognize,
however, that India and Pakistan may not join the
treaty for the foreseeable future."
What
was the purpose in making such redundant and
unhelpful assertions? This means that the US
administration is yet to get its act together
on the US–India front on nuclear issues and we
must take full advantage of this impotency on
USA’s part?
US
Wants India To Be A Non-Nuclear Weapon State
Press
Trust of India
Wednesday,
May 25, 2005
Washington.
The United States wants India, Pakistan and Israel
to "eventually" become non-nuclear weapon
states, but recognizes that it is an impossible goal
now.
US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for
non-proliferation, Andrew K. Sammel, in a statement
to the 2005 review conference on NPT in New York
said: "The United States shares the view that
the conference should reinforce the goal of
universal NPT adherence. That goal is for Israel,
India and Pakistan to eventually join the treaty as
non-nuclear weapon states."
"The situation in South Asia also poses unique
challenges. Let me reiterate that the United States
remains committed to NPT universality. We recognize,
however, that India and Pakistan may not join the
treaty for the foreseeable future," the
statement, released in Washington, said.
"We remain deeply concerned by the dangers
posed by nuclear weapons and their delivery systems
in South Asia and do not believe they enhance
regional security."
"We welcome recent signs of improved relations
between India and Pakistan.
We continue to urge both countries to end their
nuclear and missile competition, and to discuss and
implement confidence-building measures designed to
reduce regional tensions and diminish risks that
nuclear weapons could be used, either intentionally
or accidentally, in a crisis."
"As
part of our active bilateral dialogues with India
and Pakistan," Sammel said, "We continue
to urge these countries not to conduct nuclear
tests, to bring an early end to the production of
fissile material for nuclear weapons - and in that
context to support the immediate start of
negotiations on a fissile material cut off treaty to
prevent onward proliferation, and to bring their
export controls in line with international
standards.”
"We
also remain cognizant of our non-proliferation
commitments and objectives when considering how to
improve our bilateral relations with each country.
Our actions with both India and Pakistan continue to
be consistent with our NPT obligations and with our
commitment to the nuclear suppliers group
guidelines."
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