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“Address nuclear disarmament seriously”

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: “The international community has never concertedly addressed the complete elimination of nuclear weapons issue seriously. Though there had been calls for the complete elimination now and then at special sessions at the United Nations General Assembly, the progress has been negligible as nuclear weapon states had shown little interest in it,” said Satish Chandra, India’s former High Commissioner to Pakistan here on Friday.

Addressing a panel discussion on “ Global nuclear disarmament: Opportunities and challenges,” organised by the Centre for Security Analysis and Delhi Policy Group, Mr.Satish Chandra said that the world was better placed than ever before to move towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

Political will required

According to a poll undertaken by 100 international figures in 20 of the 21 countries having nuclear weapons, a large majority ranging from 62 to 93 per cent favour nuclear free world, the only exception being Pakistan. What was required now was political will of states possessing nuclear weapons and those without them.

V.R.Raghavan, president, Centre for Security Analysis, said it was unfortunate that more countries were now having nuclear weapons, including Pakistan, Iran and Korea and many more were likely to possess nuclear arsenals, whose behaviour was unpredictable. He wanted the United States and Russia to sit together and work out a plan to bring down their warheads in a verifiable manner. They should also be subjected to inspection. He also suggested that nuclear weapons should be kept under a central control so that their risk was minimised.

Rajesh Rajagopalan, Professor, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi, said lack of trust among nuclear states was the major stumbling block. The talks on nuclear disarmament should also include reduction of conventional arms.

The Hindu Dated September 5, 2009