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The Foreign Ministers of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom
and the United States met in Geneva June 4 to coordinate a response to the nuclear tests
carried out by India and Pakistan, and included a strong statement supporting the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in their Joint Communiqué. The importance of the Treaty
was further underscored when China announced it would not resume nuclear testing after the
South Asian explosions, but instead abide by a CTBT they helped negotiate and signed, even
though the Treaty has not yet entered into force.
China chaired the Geneva meeting, for which President Clinton expressed his appreciation
by saying, “This is further evidence of the important role China can play in meeting the
challenges of the 21st Century and the constructive Chinese leadership that will be
essential to the long-term resolutions of issues involving South Asia. This is an
important example of how our engagement with China serves America’s interests: stability in
Asia, [and] preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction....”
Excerpts from the Joint Communiqué include:
“The Ministers agreed that quick action is needed to arrest the further escalation of
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regional tensions stimulated by the recent nuclear tests.
India and Pakistan should
therefore stop all further such tests. They should refrain from the weaponization or
deployment of nuclear weapons, from the testing or deployment of missiles capable of
delivering nuclear weapons, and from any further production of fissile material for
nuclear weapons....
“To reinforce security and stability in the region and more
widely, the Five strongly believe that India and Pakistan should adhere to the
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty immediately and unconditionally, thereby
facilitating its early entry into force. The Five also call upon India and Pakistan
to participate, in a positive spirit and on the basis of the agreed mandate, in
negotiations with other states in the Conference on Disarmament for a Fissile
Material Cut-off Convention with a view to reaching early agreement. The Five will seek
firm commitments by India and Pakistan not to weaponize or deploy nuclear weapons or
missiles. India and Pakistan should also confirm their policies not to export equipment,
materials or technology that could contribute to weapons of mass destruction or missiles
capable of delivering them, and should undertake appropriate commitments in that regard.
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“The Ministers agreed that the international non-proliferation regime must remain
strong and effective despite the recent nuclear tests in South Asia. Their goal
continues to be adherence by all countries, including India and Pakistan, to the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as it stands, without any modification.
This Treaty is the cornerstone of the non-proliferation regime and the essential
foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. Notwithstanding their recent
nuclear tests, India and Pakistan do not have the status of nuclear weapon states
in accordance with the NPT.
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“The Ministers viewed their meeting in Geneva as setting in motion a process
aimed at strengthening peace and stability in South Asia, at encouraging restraint
by India and Pakistan, at promoting the resolution of outstanding differences, and
at bolstering the international non-proliferation regime. They will remain fully
engaged in pursuing these goals, and will work actively to build broad support in
the international community for the objectives they agreed today.”
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