The East Asia Summit, a grouping of 16 Asia Pacific countries, on Sunday exerted pressure on India to accede to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty before May 2010 when a global review on the issue of nuclear non- proliferation takes place.
"We encourage those EAS (East Asia Summit) participating countries that have not acceded to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), prior to the NPT Review conference to consider to do so as it would serve as an impetus for having a successful NPT Review Conference," the Chairman's statement on the 4th East Asia Summit said on the conclusion of the meeting.
The Philippines, in its capacity as President of the May 2010 NPT Review Conference, intends to undertake consultations on the CTBT issue.
India is among few countries which have not signed the CTBT, stating it is discriminatory and loaded in favour of the nuclear 'haves'.
Besides the 10-nation bloc of ASEAN, India, China, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan are the members of the EAS which has become an institution and has been holding annual summits since 2005.
The statement of Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as the EAS Chairman also "reaffirmed support for a peaceful and comprehensive solution on the issues of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula." On Myanmar, the document said the group would "encourage" the government there to ensure a free, fair and inclusive general elections in 2010.
It also supported the UN initiative on democratisation process in Mynamar.
Supporting the idea of a larger economic community in Asia, the EAS Chairman's statement said there was a need to remain vigilant, though the global economy had shown signs of recovery. PTI
