Statement on Negative Security Assurances by Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, Permanent Representative of India to the Conference on Disarmament — Geneva, 10 February 2011
Mr. President,
My delegation thanks you for this opportunity to discuss the issue "Effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons" or Negative Security Assurances in the CD plenary. We would like to reiterate the importance that we attach to the early adoption of Programme of Work for commencement of substantive work including negotiations in the CD.
Mr. President,
India has been consistent in its support for global, complete and verifiable nuclear disarmament leading to a nuclear weapon free world. We believe that nuclear weapons pose the greatest danger to humankind and the best assurance against their use or threat of use is their complete elimination.
Mr. President,
We believe that non-nuclear weapon States have a legitimate right to be assured against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. The Final Document of SSOD-I underscored the need for such arrangements. As part of the G-21 and Non-Aligned Movement India has supported the conclusion of a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument on security assurances to non-nuclear weapon States as a matter of priority. NSAs have been on the Agenda of the Conference since 1979. Working Groups on NSAs were established until 1983 and Adhoc Committees between 1984 and 1994 and again in 1998. Unfortunately, despite all this the goal of universal unconditional legally binding instrument on NSAs has remained elusive.
We believe that progressive steps for the de-legitimization of nuclear weapons are essential to achieving the goal of their complete elimination. Reducing the role of nuclear weapons in security doctrines, increasing restraints on the use of nuclear weapons, dealerting of nuclear weapons and reducing nuclear dangers including the possibility of accidental or unintentional use of nuclear weapons are steps which are gaining increasing international support. India's resolutions in the First Committee have elaborated some of these steps. The two resolutions sponsored by India entitled "Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons" and "Reducing Nuclear Dangers" have found support from a large number of countries. I would also like to recall that in February 2007, India tabled a Working Paper (CD/1816) in the CD which suggested a number of measures on nuclear disarmament including specific legal measures such as a Global No First Use Agreement and a Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear weapons.
Mr. President,
As part of its credible minimum nuclear deterrent, India has espoused the policy of "No First Use" against nuclear weapon states and non-use against non-nuclear weapon states. We are prepared to convert these undertakings into multilateral legal arrangements.
In conclusion, let me once again underscore India's commitment to work with other Members of the Conference for achieving the objective of the establishment of a subsidiary body to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. The negotiation of such an instrument will complement other measures to reduce the salience of nuclear weapons in security doctrines and improve the international climate for promoting nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects.
Thank you.
