23 mar 2012
PM to unveil India's plan to meet nuclear terror threat
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| Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India |
New Delhi: Amid global worries about threat of nuclear terrorism and concerns over safety, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will unveil before the world the steps conceived by India to meet these challenges when he attends the Nuclear Security Summit in South Korea on Monday.
Mr Singh, who leaves on Saturday on a four-day visit to South Korea, said on Friday that he will also underline India's continuing support to a world free from nuclear weapons.
In his pre-departure statement, he noted that the Seoul Summit follows the one convened by President Barack Obama in Washington in April, 2010, to focus the attention of countries with considerable nuclear capabilities on the threat posed by nuclear terrorism.
"This remains a continuing concern," Mr Singh said.
Pointing out that India is expanding its nuclear power programme to diversify its energy mix and enhance energy security, he said that in order to retain public support for harnessing the benefits of nuclear energy, "we must be able to assure them of the highest levels of nuclear security and safety."
This, he said, is "even more important" after the Fukushima accident in Japan last year.
"India has prepared a national report which will be shared during the Summit," the Prime Minister said, adding he would highlight the high priority India attaches to nuclear security, safety and non-proliferation and its impeccable record in this regard.
Mr Singh said he expected the Seoul Summit to review actions that countries have taken to strengthen nuclear security since the last meet and recommend further steps to enhance the global nuclear security architecture.
The Seoul Summit, to be attended by US President Barack Obama and 57 other world leaders, will review the progress made since the first Summit.
"The main objective of the Summit has been high-level attention on the global threat posed by nuclear terrorism and the measures that are required to prevent terrorists and other non-state actors from gaining access to sensitive nuclear material and technologies," Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai had told reporters yesterday while briefing the media on the visit.
During his visit to Seoul, Mr Singh is scheduled to hold talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and leaders of some other countries.
An agreement on simplifying issuance of visas between India and South Korea would be signed after talks between Mr Singh and Mr Lee.
"I look forward to my bilateral meeting with President Lee to undertake a comprehensive review of our relations with the Republic of Korea, and identify new steps for the future," the Prime Minister said in the statement.
Describing South Korea as a strategic partner and an important pillar of India's "Look East" policy, he noted the two countries have a vibrant trade and investment relationship and partnership in science and technology, education and energy holds enormous promise.
Mr Singh would also seek to strengthen people-to-people contacts between the two countries, strengthen cooperation in the field of science and technology, and also coordinate the thinking on matters relating to regional security and international events.
Mr Singh, who leaves on Saturday on a four-day visit to South Korea, said on Friday that he will also underline India's continuing support to a world free from nuclear weapons.
In his pre-departure statement, he noted that the Seoul Summit follows the one convened by President Barack Obama in Washington in April, 2010, to focus the attention of countries with considerable nuclear capabilities on the threat posed by nuclear terrorism.
"This remains a continuing concern," Mr Singh said.
Pointing out that India is expanding its nuclear power programme to diversify its energy mix and enhance energy security, he said that in order to retain public support for harnessing the benefits of nuclear energy, "we must be able to assure them of the highest levels of nuclear security and safety."
This, he said, is "even more important" after the Fukushima accident in Japan last year.
"India has prepared a national report which will be shared during the Summit," the Prime Minister said, adding he would highlight the high priority India attaches to nuclear security, safety and non-proliferation and its impeccable record in this regard.
Mr Singh said he expected the Seoul Summit to review actions that countries have taken to strengthen nuclear security since the last meet and recommend further steps to enhance the global nuclear security architecture.
The Seoul Summit, to be attended by US President Barack Obama and 57 other world leaders, will review the progress made since the first Summit.
"The main objective of the Summit has been high-level attention on the global threat posed by nuclear terrorism and the measures that are required to prevent terrorists and other non-state actors from gaining access to sensitive nuclear material and technologies," Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai had told reporters yesterday while briefing the media on the visit.
During his visit to Seoul, Mr Singh is scheduled to hold talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and leaders of some other countries.
An agreement on simplifying issuance of visas between India and South Korea would be signed after talks between Mr Singh and Mr Lee.
"I look forward to my bilateral meeting with President Lee to undertake a comprehensive review of our relations with the Republic of Korea, and identify new steps for the future," the Prime Minister said in the statement.
Describing South Korea as a strategic partner and an important pillar of India's "Look East" policy, he noted the two countries have a vibrant trade and investment relationship and partnership in science and technology, education and energy holds enormous promise.
Mr Singh would also seek to strengthen people-to-people contacts between the two countries, strengthen cooperation in the field of science and technology, and also coordinate the thinking on matters relating to regional security and international events.
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