02 June 1998
TEXT: CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT JOINT STATEMENT: INDIA, PAKISTAN
(States call on India, Pakistan to cease nuclear weapons testing) (650) Geneva -- Tensions in the Asia region will only be resolved permanently through constructive dialogue and negotiation, according to member states of the Conference on Disarmament. "It is now crucial that India and Pakistan announce immediately a cessation to all further testing of these weapons, renounce their nuclear weapons programmes and sign and ratify, unconditionally, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty," 46 of the Conference on Disarmament's 62 member states said in a joint statement issued June 2. The member states called on India and Pakistan to "abandon immediately the course of action they are pursuing and to settle their security concerns and differences through political engagement. Such an approach will have the full support of the international community which is striving towards nuclear disarmament," they said. Following is the text of the joint statement: (Begin text) Mr. President, first may I take the opportunity to congratulate you on assuming the Presidency. It is good to see you in the chair and you can rely on the full support of my delegation. Mr. President I an taking the floor at this Special Session to read into the record a statement from the following Member States and Observers of the Conference: Australia, New Zealand, U.S., U.K., Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Ukraine, Canada, Greece, Slovakia, Hungary, Sweden, Belarus, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Norway, Philippines, Denmark, Italy, Romania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Japan, Malta, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Republic of Korea, France, China, Turkey, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Chile, Ireland, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, Portugal, Slovenia. Mr. President, they are alarmed and deeply concerned at nuclear testing by India and Pakistan. They condemn all nuclear tasting and consider such acts to be contrary to the international consensus which bans the testing of nuclear weapons and other explosive devices. The tests undertaken by India, and Pakistan's decision to respond with its own tests, blatantly undermine the international regime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The actions of India and Pakistan threaten and undermine the process of disarmament and the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons altogether. The testing of nuclear weapons by India and Pakistan is totally irreconcilable with claims by both countries that they are committed to nuclear disarmament. International security will not be enhanced by provocative and dangerous acts. Nor will regional or global security be improved or maintained by indulging in competitive manoeuvres to further develop nuclear capability and delivery systems. The approach that India and Pakistan seem determined to pursue belongs to a by-gone age. Peace in the Asia region is a global concern. Tensions will only be resolved permanently through constructive dialogue and negotiation. It is now crucial that India and Pakistan announce immediately a cessation to all further testing of these weapons, renounce their nuclear weapons programmes and sign and ratify, unconditionally, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. This is a matter of urgency and essential for generating the confidence necessary for security differences to be received through dialogue and negotiation. We also call on India and Pakistan to accede, without delay, to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to join all States in ensuring the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and to engage in negotiations to conclude a ban on the production of fissile material. These are further essential steps that should be taken in the process of working collectively and constructively towards the elimination of nuclear weapons. This is a moment for all countries to exercise calm and maximum restraint. We call on India and Pakistan to abandon immediately the course of action they are pursuing and to settle their security concerns and differences through political engagement. Such an approach will have the full support of the international community which is striving towards nuclear disarmament. (End text)
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