Govt seeks to allay apprehensions of N.S.G. members

New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) Seeking to allay apprehensions
of certain N.S.G. countries, India on Friday said it is
committed to the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime
and underlined the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons.

With the N.S.G. meeting for a waiver to India for nuclear
commerce underway in Vienna, External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee issued a statement here saying that New Delhi will
work with the international community to advance the "common
objective" of non-proliferation.

He assured the world community that India will not be
a source of proliferation of sensitive technologies, including
enrichment and reprocessing transfers.

Mukherjee noted that New Delhi remained committed to a
voluntary, unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing.

"We do not subscribe to any arms race, including
nuclear arms race. We have always tempered the exercise of our
strategic autonomy with a sense of global responsibility. We
affirm our policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons".

"We stand for the strengthening of the non-proliferation
regime...," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee's remarks come in the backdrop of some members
of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) expressing
concern over giving India a waiver for conducting nuclear
trade.

Assuring the international community about working for
a non-proliferation regime, the Minister said New Delhi is
"interested in participating as a supplier nation,
particularly for Thorium-based fuel and in establishment of
international fuel banks, which also benefit India."