Rede auf der 46. Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz - 06.02.2010

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished panelists and delegates,

I need to be brief and hence will merely set out the main points of what I wish to say.

First, what strikes me is that both in 2008 and 2009, the question posed on the future of nuclear weapons has been ´Is Zero possible?`. I view this as indicative of an overwhelming sentiment amongst top global policymakers on the issue of global elimination of nuclear weapons, to which India is passionately committed. The efforts of Dr. Kissinger, Secretary Schultz, Senator Sam Nunn and Secretary Perry have not been in vain. 

Next, I wish to underline that India has an unwavering commitment to global efforts to prevent proliferation, and progress towards the complete elimination of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. As far back as 1954 India´s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had, for example, sought a comprehensive ban on nuclear testing. This was repeated by successive Indian Prime Ministers in subsequent years.

Third, a significant milestone in this context was the Action Plan put forward by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of India in 1988 for a ´Nuclear Weapons Free and Non-violent World Order´. The Plan involved a 3-stage process for the global elimination of nuclear weapons and had it been accepted and implemented, we would have seen significant progress by this year i.e. 2010.

Fourth, it is perhaps not widely known that India´s national commitments on global and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament are actually more robust than those required under the NPT. Notwithstanding the fact that India is a nuclear weapon state, it is supportive of commencement of negotiations on a Nuclear Weapons Convention that would lead to the global, non-discriminatory and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified timeframe.

Fifth, meanwhile we have for our part undertaken a voluntary unilateral moratorium on nuclear explosive testing. As a responsible member of the international community, we have also indicated our willingness to participate actively in negotiations for a verifiable FMCT in the Conference on Disarmament.

Sixth, we believe that nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing processes. We do recognize however that there are specific proliferation challenges that would need to be met in the shorter term.

Seventh, India has for long had a law based system of export controls. We have further updated this in accordance with international best practices. Our Export Control list and guidelines are harmonized with the Nuclear Suppliers Group list and the Missile Technology Control Regime. In the context of the ongoing debate on sensitive elements of the nuclear fuel cycle, we are committed to not transferring sensitive technologies and equipment to countries that do not possess them.

Eighth, we regard the threat from nuclear terrorism as real and should cause all of us a great deal of concern. The catastrophic consequences of this could be incalculable. India has sponsored a resolution in the United Nations to highlight the threat of nuclear terrorism calling for national and international cooperation to prevent terrorists from gaining access to nuclear weapons and materials. In this context, India welcomes the initiative of President Obama to host a Nuclear Security Summit in April this year.

Is Zero possible? The answer is yes. If we can agree to the elimination of chemical and biological weapons globally, we can also agree on the complete and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons. This may not be easy. Nuclear weapons still hold political and security value for those who rely on nuclear deterrence. That calculus has to change and the challenges of verification and compliance would need to be addressed.

I conclude by affirming that India as a responsible member of the international community is committed like all other stakeholders, to strengthening the non-proliferation regime and to continue to take initiatives to promote a nuclear weapons free world.

The measures that India would like to put forward to realize the vision of a nuclear weapons free world are :

Thank you.