HC Deb 03 June 1998 vol 313 cc242-3W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on actions taken to reduce nuclear testing in South Asia following the Indian nuclear test. [43945]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

[holding answer 1 June 1998]: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement to the House on 1 June 1998, Official Report, columns 21–22, the UK nationally and through the G8, EU and UN Security Council has exerted and continues to exert strong diplomatic pressure on India to adhere to the CTBT and NPT without conditions, and enter into negotiations on a global treaty to end the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. We have called upon Pakistan to do the same and made it clear that the best way to reduce tension in the region is to cease nuclear testing.

In addition to issuing EU Presidency statements immediately following the first Indian and Pakistani tests, we recalled our High Commissioners in New Delhi and Islamabad for consultations, and summoned the Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners here. Heads of EU Troika missions made demarches in New Delhi and Islamabad on 12 and 13 May respectively. The UN Security Council issued Presidential statements on 14 and 29 May, strongly deploring the Indian and Pakistani actions. The G8 Heads of Government issued a statement on 18 May condemning the Indian tests. In the wake of the subsequent Pakistani tests we have invited G8 Foreign Ministers to meet in London on 12 June.

The GAC issued a declaration on 25 May calling on India to take a number of arms control and non-proliferation measures. In addition, Member States of the EU have agreed to work for deferral of consideration of International Financial Institution loans to India and to consider further measures should India not accede to the relevant non-proliferation agreements. The UK has additionally suspended certain high-level military visits and is reviewing contacts in the defence field.

We expect comparable measures to be agreed for Pakistan, following their tests.

Back to