Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Prime Minister what matters in regard to the control of nuclear proliferation were discussed at his meeting with the President of Turkmenistan on 29 March.
§ The Prime MinisterDuring our discussions President Niyazov confirmed to me that all nuclear weapons had been withdrawn from Turkmenistan, in accordance with an agreement between Turkemenistan and Russia.
Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Prime Minister whether he discussed(a) the prospects of Pakistan joining the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and (b) the risks of nuclear proliferation in Asia during his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart on 29 March.
§ The Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif and I discussed these matters briefly. The Pakistan Government are well aware of our views.
Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 29 March,Official Report, column 46, if he will set out the reasons underlying the assessment of the indefinite extension of the non-proliferation treaty as being in the interests of all signatories.
465W
§ The Prime MinisterThe prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is vital to the security of the whole world. We believe that the non-proliferation treaty represents the best available means of preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and that therefore t is in the interests of all states parties to secure the indefinite extension of the treaty in 1995.