G-8 to push N. Korea to abandon nuke plans

Yomiuri Shimbun ^ | 06/28/05

[TigerLikesRooster]

G-8 to push N. Korea to abandon nuke plans

The Yomiuri Shimbun

A nuclear nonproliferation declaration that pressures North Korea to abandon its nuclear development program is to be adopted at the upcoming Group of Eight major nations summit meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland, government sources said Monday.

The declaration, which has been tentatively called the "declaration concerning nonproliferation," will express "grave concern" over North Korea, which declared in February that it possessed nuclear weapons.

According to the sources, if the schedule for resumption of the six-way talks is not decided at the July 6-8 summit meeting, the G-8 will demand that North Korea return to the talks.

The G-8 also is expected to call on Iran to end the enrichment of uranium and reprocessing of nuclear fuel. Iran's President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Sunday to continue to pursue a peaceful nuclear program.

During the group's summit meeting on Sea Island, Ga., last year, the participants agreed on an action plan proposed by the United States to strengthen efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Despite the fact that Pyongyang has declared its possession of nuclear arms, last month's Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty meeting in New York failed to reach agreement on key issues, and took no concrete measures against Iran's and North Korea's nuclear plans.

As a result, the G-8 will reaffirm its commitment to tackling the problem and incorporate it in the declaration.

According to the sources, the declaration also will stipulate the strengthening of export controls so that equipment and technology related to uranium enrichment and reprocessing of nuclear fuel does not fall into the hands of terrorists.

However, Japan, Europe and the United States are at odds over measures to strengthen export controls, and the wording concerning this area is still being worked out.

While the United States is calling for a ban on the transfer of nuclear-related equipment and technology to countries that do not have facilities for uranium enrichment and reprocessing nuclear fuel, Japan and European countries are calling for regulating such transfers by setting criteria through the ratification of an International Atomic Energy Agency protocol.

The declaration will call for meetings among developing countries and expert seminars as measures to prevent the spread of biological and chemical weapons and ballistic missiles.

The declaration also will stipulate the G-8 play an active role in expanding the number of countries participating in the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative.

(Jun. 28, 2005)

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[kharaku]

You knoww we should make this an official policy at shopping malls too. Security gaurds at many malls are forbidden to chase criminals. I think the malls should add to their security measures a declaration of grave concern when someone walks out of a store with stolen merchandise. I knoww *I'd* feel safer. (/sarc)