I"A DIRECTOR GENERAL, REGRETTING NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN, CALLS FOR UTMOST RESTRAINT
Press Release
IAEA/1321
IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL, REGRETTING NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN, CALLS FOR UTMOST RESTRAINT
19980529The following statement was issued today in Vienna by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei deeply regrets the recent nuclear tests by India and Pakistan.
Such tests could lead to a dangerous nuclear arms race and call into question the basic principles of non-proliferation, developed over the last three decades and reflected in the NPT adhered to by 186 States, namely to freeze the number of weapon States and move towards nuclear disarmament.
The Director-General expressed the hope that both States will exercise the utmost restraint and commit themselves to the course of action supported by the international community: no nuclear tests; no additional weapon States; and a concrete programme to reduce and ultimately eliminate nuclear weapons with universal adherence to the CTBT and a treaty prohibiting the production of nuclear material for weapon purposes, as an indispensable and urgent first step.
The Director-General firmly believes that global and regional accommodation and detente rather than the acquisition of nuclear weapons is the way to attain and enhance peace and security.
The IAEA Board of Governors is to consider the matter at its meetings commencing on 8 June.
* *** *