Press Release (98)58 20 May 1998

Statement By The North Atlantic Council On The Indian Nuclear Tests The North Atlantic Council condemns the decision of the Indian Government to conduct nuclear tests. These nuclear tests increase regional instability, risk stimulating a dangerous arms race and constitute a serious threat to the global efforts toward nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The Alliance underlines that the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) are the cornerstones of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and the essential foundations for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. India's actions once again demonstrate the necessity of active efforts to attain universal adherence to the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, which is important to international security. The North Atlantic Council calls upon India to confirm its intention to cease nuclear testing and to renounce its nuclear weapons programme. We urge India and the other states in the region which have not yet done so to adhere unconditionally to the NPT and the CTBT. In this context, we also urge India and other countries in the region to refrain from developing, testing or deploying nuclear weapons and their delivery means. We also call upon India to follow up its recent statements and to engage actively and without conditions in efforts to conclude a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty. We especially encourage Pakistan to adhere to international non-proliferation norms and to exercise maximum restraint in the face of this situation.