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ShareWashington: In an attempt to ratchet up pressure on India over the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) issue, the United States and the European Union have asked all non-signatories of the NPT, including India, to sign the pact which it considers discriminatory.
The US and the EU urged countries, including India, that are not part of the NPT regime to accede to the controversial treaty as non-nuclear weapon states to achieve universality.
The call came in a joint declaration at the conclusion of the US-EU 2009 Summit yesterday.
It came a little over a month after the US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution called on all nations to sign the NPT and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
The resolution at a Security Council session led by US president Barack Obama was not well received in India which has not signed the treaty since it considered that the NPT's norms are unacceptable, discriminatory and grossly unfair.
Voicing their commitment to preserving and strengthening the authority and integrity of the NPT, the US and EU said that the treaty, based on its three reinforcing pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, represented a unique and irreplaceable framework for maintaining and strengthening international peace, security and stability.
Expressing support for entry into force of CTBT at an early date and in the meantime continued observance of moratoria on nuclear tests, the two sides sought immediate start of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), including verification provisions, on the basis of consensus agreement on a programme of work reached in May 2009. India is also not a signatory to the CTBT.
