Manmohan Singh welcomed US president Barack Obama’s initiative in holding the nuclear security summit (on April 12-13) and made the point that India was a stakeholder in this global endeavour.
One the eve of his visit to Washington, prime minister (PM) Manmohan Singh welcomed US president Barack Obama’s initiative in holding the nuclear security summit (on April 12-13) and made the point that India was a stakeholder in this global endeavour.
PM spoke of India’s impeccable non-proliferation record and said it reflected its position as a “responsible nuclear power”. It is well known that India is worried about the safety of nuclear installations in Pakistan. It fears terror groups could create havoc if they get a chance to lay their hands on sensitive nuclear material. This is one reason India is a staunch supporter of the Obama initiative.
“I expect the summit to focus on nuclear terrorism and proliferation of sensitive nuclear materials and technologies. These are legitimate concerns which require firm responses. India has a well-developed indigenous nuclear energy programme which dates back six decades. We have an impeccable record of security, safety and non-proliferation, which reflects our conduct as a responsible nuclear power,” PM said in his statement.
Manmohan said with growing role of nuclear power, the time to reinforce greater vigilance in these installations had arrived. “This will be possible only if we, as individual nations, and as a global community ensure the highest standards of security which reinforce public faith in the benefits of nuclear science,” he said.
PM said India had always been an advocate of complete and universal nuclear disarmament. “We were among the first countries to call for a world free of nuclear weapons. I am encouraged by the fact that this approach is finding greater resonance today. We will continue to call for more meaningful progress in this direction.”
Manmohan also spoke of his visit to Brazil where a meeting of the new grouping comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China (Bric) is on.
“The Bric countries are among the largest and fastest growing economies with rich human and material resources. They represent the future of the global economic landscape. We have a high stake in the revival of the global economy, an open trading system, energy security, combating climate change and addressing non-traditional threats to international security,” he said.
In Brasilia, PM is expected to have bilateral meetings with president Hu Jintao of China and president Dmitry Medvedev of Russia. Brazil’s president Lula da Silva as host will also hold talks with Manmohan.
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