By IANS,
Hua Hin (Thailand): The East Asia Summit Sunday sought to pressure India into signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
In his capacity as chairman of the multi-nation forum, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva noted the intention of the Philippines to undertake wide and transparent consultation to achieve a successful outcome of the May 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.
“We also encouraged those East Asia Summit participating countries that have not acceded to the CTBT to do so prior to the NPT Review Conference as it would serve as an impetus for having a successful NPT Review Conference,” Vejjajiva said in his concluding statement.
The East Asia Summit brings together the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and six participating countries: India, China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended the East Asia Summit Sunday after the conclusion of Saturday’s India-ASEAN Summit. India has refused to accede to the NPT and CTBT, calling them discriminatory between nuclear haves and have-nots.