India, Japan differ on CTBT in joint statement
30 May 2013 6:39 AM IST
India and Japan continue to differ on the contentious issue of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) even though Japan has assured it would work to prepare the ground for India to become a full member of the international control regimes for nuclear exports.
In a joint statement issued in Tokyo by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on the ‘Strengthening of strategic and global partnership’ between India and Japan, the CTBT issue continued to be an irritant.
‘The two prime ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Abe stressed the importance of bringing into force the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) at an early date. Prime Minister Singh reiterated India's commitment to its unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear explosive testing,’ the joint statement said.
India, a nuclear weapons state, has refused to sign the CTBT while maintaining that it was committed to a unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing. But Japan offered help India in civil nuclear cooperation.
‘Prime Minister Abe recognised India's sound non-proliferation record. Both sides expressed their commitment to continue to work to prepare the ground for India to become a full member in the international export control regimes: the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement,’ the statement said.
‘The two prime ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to working together for immediate commencement and an early conclusion of negotiations on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT),’ it said.
Manmohan Singh later said: ‘The joint statement reflects our mutual understanding and the steps we are taking to advance our relationship. Prime Minister Abe and I had wide-ranging discussions over the past two days, characterized by a convergence that is fully consistent with our global and strategic partnership.
In a joint statement issued in Tokyo by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on the ‘Strengthening of strategic and global partnership’ between India and Japan, the CTBT issue continued to be an irritant.
‘The two prime ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Abe stressed the importance of bringing into force the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) at an early date. Prime Minister Singh reiterated India's commitment to its unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear explosive testing,’ the joint statement said.
India, a nuclear weapons state, has refused to sign the CTBT while maintaining that it was committed to a unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing. But Japan offered help India in civil nuclear cooperation.
‘Prime Minister Abe recognised India's sound non-proliferation record. Both sides expressed their commitment to continue to work to prepare the ground for India to become a full member in the international export control regimes: the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement,’ the statement said.
‘The two prime ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to working together for immediate commencement and an early conclusion of negotiations on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT),’ it said.
Manmohan Singh later said: ‘The joint statement reflects our mutual understanding and the steps we are taking to advance our relationship. Prime Minister Abe and I had wide-ranging discussions over the past two days, characterized by a convergence that is fully consistent with our global and strategic partnership.
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