THE HAGUE:
Emphasising that Pakistan’s peaceful nuclear programme posed no threat
to any country, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday
underlined the need for constant vigilance and preparedness at the
national level as well as international cooperation to strengthen the
nuclear security.
“Let me clarify that there is no such thing as ‘nuclear security fatigue’. Nuclear security is a continuous national responsibility,” the prime minister said in his opening remarks at the ‘Informal Plenary on the future of the Nuclear Security Summit’.
He suggested that in the years to come, the states should maintain political will and high level focus to advance the agenda of nuclear security.“In future, while implementing our decisions, we have to strike a balance between confidentiality and openness and steer away from both alarmism and complacency. Nuclear security must not fade off the leaders’ radar screens,” he maintained.
The prime minister expressed the pleasure that US President Barack Obama would be hosting the next nuclear security summit (NSS) in 2016. “It is only fitting that this process, which was launched in the United States, is also concluded there. We know we cannot hold the summits in perpetuity,” he added.
He said in the past four years, three summits had made progress and the next summit would cover a fresh ground. “We have to look beyond the present process and the 2016.”
He also stressed the need for broadening participation in this process to widen its ownership to enhance its legitimacy.
“It makes perfect sense that beyond 2016 the entire membership of the IAEA owns and upholds the decisions taken by the nuclear security summits,” he opined.“In close consultation with the IAEA membership, we should dispel the impression that the NSS process is imposing new mandates on the agency.”
“As we go forward, we will have to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. We are not creating parallel mechanisms or a new treaty regime,” he said.He said in post-2016, the focus should be on synergy and coordination among various components of the nuclear security architecture — which comprises the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), the UN 1540 Committee, conventions on physical protection of nuclear material and the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, and relevant international forums.
“The process, we envisage, could be supported by senior officials and experts. The exact cycle and scope of the follow-up process, led by the IAEA, could be discussed at the 2016 summit,” he added.
“By 2016, our four summits would have put substantial content on the table for follow-up and implementation, which are key for strengthened international cooperation,” he added.Meanwhile, talking to French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit here, Nawaz said the economy of Pakistan had suffered heavily in the war against terrorism and the Friends of Pakistan must acknowledge its sacrifices in a tangible manner.
Nawaz said the international community should reciprocate Pakistan by helping and supporting its trade and economy. He said Pakistan attached special importance to its relations with France and expressed the hope that these relations would continue to improve in all fields of cooperation in future.
The prime minister told the French president that Pakistan was keen to normalise its relations with India and underlined the importance of solution to the Kashmir issue. Hollande said France acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror and appreciated the economic reforms being undertaken by the government. He also appreciated Pakistan’s initiative to normalise its relations with India.
He said France was also looking towards improving relations with Pakistan in all fields, especially in trade and defence.Nawaz also met German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday and discussed with her matters of mutual interest, including the bilateral trade. He termed the meeting “productive”.
In an interaction with media persons following the meeting, the prime minister said he thanked the German chancellor for her country’s support to Pakistan to get the GSP Plus status.The prime minister said Pakistan’s relations with India and Afghanistan also came under discussion.
Meanwhile, 35 countries on Tuesday pledged to turn international guidelines on nuclear security into national laws — a move aimed at preventing terrorists from getting their hands onto nuclear material.
The Tuesday’s initiative also commits countries to open up their security procedures to independent review, marking a further step towards creating an international legal framework to thwart nuclear terrorism, said a joint statement from the Netherlands, the United States and South Korea.
“Let me clarify that there is no such thing as ‘nuclear security fatigue’. Nuclear security is a continuous national responsibility,” the prime minister said in his opening remarks at the ‘Informal Plenary on the future of the Nuclear Security Summit’.
He suggested that in the years to come, the states should maintain political will and high level focus to advance the agenda of nuclear security.“In future, while implementing our decisions, we have to strike a balance between confidentiality and openness and steer away from both alarmism and complacency. Nuclear security must not fade off the leaders’ radar screens,” he maintained.
The prime minister expressed the pleasure that US President Barack Obama would be hosting the next nuclear security summit (NSS) in 2016. “It is only fitting that this process, which was launched in the United States, is also concluded there. We know we cannot hold the summits in perpetuity,” he added.
He said in the past four years, three summits had made progress and the next summit would cover a fresh ground. “We have to look beyond the present process and the 2016.”
He also stressed the need for broadening participation in this process to widen its ownership to enhance its legitimacy.
“It makes perfect sense that beyond 2016 the entire membership of the IAEA owns and upholds the decisions taken by the nuclear security summits,” he opined.“In close consultation with the IAEA membership, we should dispel the impression that the NSS process is imposing new mandates on the agency.”
“As we go forward, we will have to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. We are not creating parallel mechanisms or a new treaty regime,” he said.He said in post-2016, the focus should be on synergy and coordination among various components of the nuclear security architecture — which comprises the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), the UN 1540 Committee, conventions on physical protection of nuclear material and the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, and relevant international forums.
“The process, we envisage, could be supported by senior officials and experts. The exact cycle and scope of the follow-up process, led by the IAEA, could be discussed at the 2016 summit,” he added.
“By 2016, our four summits would have put substantial content on the table for follow-up and implementation, which are key for strengthened international cooperation,” he added.Meanwhile, talking to French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit here, Nawaz said the economy of Pakistan had suffered heavily in the war against terrorism and the Friends of Pakistan must acknowledge its sacrifices in a tangible manner.
Nawaz said the international community should reciprocate Pakistan by helping and supporting its trade and economy. He said Pakistan attached special importance to its relations with France and expressed the hope that these relations would continue to improve in all fields of cooperation in future.
The prime minister told the French president that Pakistan was keen to normalise its relations with India and underlined the importance of solution to the Kashmir issue. Hollande said France acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror and appreciated the economic reforms being undertaken by the government. He also appreciated Pakistan’s initiative to normalise its relations with India.
He said France was also looking towards improving relations with Pakistan in all fields, especially in trade and defence.Nawaz also met German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday and discussed with her matters of mutual interest, including the bilateral trade. He termed the meeting “productive”.
In an interaction with media persons following the meeting, the prime minister said he thanked the German chancellor for her country’s support to Pakistan to get the GSP Plus status.The prime minister said Pakistan’s relations with India and Afghanistan also came under discussion.
Meanwhile, 35 countries on Tuesday pledged to turn international guidelines on nuclear security into national laws — a move aimed at preventing terrorists from getting their hands onto nuclear material.
The Tuesday’s initiative also commits countries to open up their security procedures to independent review, marking a further step towards creating an international legal framework to thwart nuclear terrorism, said a joint statement from the Netherlands, the United States and South Korea.
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