Media Release
September 13, 2010
International Nuclear Abolition Network Issues Appeal Concerning Proposed Nuclear Cooperation between Japan and India
The Global Council of the Abolition 2000 Network today sent a letter to the Japanese Government about proposed nuclear cooperation between Japan and India. Abolition 2000 is a network of over 2000 organizations in more than 90 countries working for a global treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons.
The letter, sent to Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okada and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Masayuki Naoshima, states, “the Japanese Government should not reverse its long-standing policy of not permitting nuclear trade with India.”
Negotiations towards the conclusion of a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement between Japan and India began on June 28. The Abolition 2000 Global Council points out, “Japanese nuclear cooperation with India will undermine Japan’s claim to leadership on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and intensify the nuclear arms race in South Asia.”
The letter states, “India still has not signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and it continues to produce fissile material and expand its nuclear arsenal. As one of only three states never to have signed the NPT, it has not made a legally-binding commitment to achieve nuclear disarmament, and it refuses to allow comprehensive, full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.”
The letter notes the connection between exceptional treatment afforded to India and China’s announcement that it will export an additional two nuclear power plants to Pakistan. It warns, “The provision of uranium and/or nuclear fuel to Pakistan or India for safeguarded reactors will increase their respective capacity to produce enriched uranium or plutonium for weapons purposes in unsafeguarded facilities. Consequently, nuclear cooperation with India and Pakistan will intensify the nuclear arms race in South Asia.”
Furthermore, “Nuclear cooperation with India and Pakistan violates nonproliferation obligations and norms”, including Action 35 of the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
On September 6, 2008 the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) agreed to exempt India from provisions in its nuclear export guidelines, which had prohibited the transfer of nuclear material, equipment and technology to India. The Abolition 2000 Network coordinated an international campaign against granting such an exemption for India. Click here for the web site of Abolition 2000’s US-India Deal Working Group.
Contact
Akira Kawasaki (Abolition 2000 Global Council Member and Peace Boat Executive Committee Member): 81-(0)3-3363-8047
See US-India Working Group home page