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Different positions between France and the G21 in the conference on nuclear disarmament

By KUNA,

Geneva : France regretted on Wednesday that the statement of the Group of 21 in the Conference on nuclear disarmament held in Geneva “had not mentioned negotiations of a Cut-Off Treaty.”

However, India, speaking on behalf of the G21, said in the statement that the Group of 21 reiterated its concern at the threat to humanity posed by the existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. “As long as nuclear weapons existed, the risk of their proliferation would remain. Achieving total nuclear disarmament remained the G21’s highest priority,” India said.

The Group also reaffirmed its readiness to start negotiations on a phased program for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specific framework of time, including a nuclear-weapons convention. “Nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation were substantively interrelated and mutually reinforcing. Progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects was essential to strengthening international peace and security”, emphasized the statement.

On negative security assurances, the G21 reaffirmed that the total elimination of nuclear weapons was the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Pending this achievement, the G21 reaffirmed the urgent need to reach an early agreement on a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. There was a need to recognize the right of non-nuclear-weapon States not to be attacked by or threatened with the use of nuclear weapons emphases the G21, which represent the members of the Non-Aligned Movement.