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India to press for safety of nuclear weapons
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 23
India is likely to push for stringent global measures to ensure safety of nuclear weapons. At the third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) which opens at The Hague tomorrow, New Delhi is likely to call for ‘greater practical cooperation’ against illicit trafficking of nuclear material.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will lead the Indian delegation at the two-day summit, to be attended by top leaders from more than 50 countries. Both previous summits, (Washington in 2010 and Seoul in 2012) were attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He has decided to give a miss to the summit this time in view of the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Sources said India would also focus on “gaps” in international nuclear security legal framework and emphasise on the need for member countries to be party to its conventions, including Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.

Sources said a new module has been introduced in the summit in which “fictional nuclear security threat scenarios” would be presented, and leaders would discuss their choices. This is the first time such a session is being held. “Our approach would be to focus on some pending work e.g there are still gaps in the international nuclear security legal architecture. A number of NSS countries are still not party to 2005 amendments to the Convention of Physical Protection of Nuclear Material,” they said.

India is also expected to utilise the opportunity to brief world leaders on the progress made in setting up the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) as was committed by New Delhi at the Seoul summit. Sources said the Prime Minister had inaugurated the centre at Bahadurgarh in Haryana in January. “We have started constructing five schools. We are not waiting for buildings to come...we have already started off campus courses.”

The Indian minister is also likely to enumerate the measures implemented by New Delhi to ensure safety and security of its nuclear facilities and materials at the summit.

In a paper to be presented at the summit, India will also highlight some salient features of its civil nuclear programme. According to the paper, nuclear energy is slated to play an increasingly important role in India’s energy security and sustainable development plans. The country is looking at a target of 60,000 MW of electricity production by 2030 from a range of reactors-indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), Light Water Reactors (LWRs) and indigenous fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs). India will also impress upon the international community its impeccable record on nuclear non-proliferation.

Khurshid to lead delegation

* At the third Nuclear Security Summit which opens at The Hague tomorrow, New Delhi is likely to call for ‘greater practical cooperation’ against illicit trafficking of nuclear material

* External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will lead the Indian delegation at the two-day summit, to be attended by top leaders from more than 50 countries