India calls for starting negotiations for FMCT

(UNI) India strongly pushed for commencing negotiations for a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty(FMCT), saying such a treaty was a must for future global nuclear disarmament efforts. 'We support the negotiation in the Conference on Disarmament(CD)of a non-discriminatory and internationally verifiable treaty banning the future production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices that meets India's national security interests, 'Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said speaking at the Conference on Disarmament at Paris. India is a nuclear weapon state and a responsible member of the world community, and would approach these negotiations as such, said Mr Mathai. He underlined that India's support for FMCT negotiations was consistent with its approach in strengthening the global non-proliferation regime, and an FMCT would add a measure of strategic predictability and would be a base line for future global nuclear disarmament efforts. 'Therefore blocking FMCT negotiations for an open ended nuclear build up would be a matter of concern not just for India but for the international community as a whole,' he said. Pointing out that India was a major space faring nation with wide ranging interests in Outer Space, the Foreign Secretary said it accorded priority to the issue of Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, including the safety of assets in space. The international legal framework on space security needs to be strengthened to enhance the security of space assets for all space users and to ensure the long term sustainability of Outer Space, he said. UNI