From C K Nayak
Seoul: Seeking a weapons free world, leaders from 58 countries will discuss measures to secure all fissile material across the globe at the Nuclear Security Summit here next week, with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh set to share steps conceived by India to tackle the challenge of nuclear terrorism.
Dr Singh arrived at the Air Force Base here on Saturday for a four-day visit during which he will hold bilateral talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to strengthen relations with the Asian economic partner.
The Prime Minister was received at the Air Force Base here by Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Han and India’s Ambassador to South Korea Vishnu Prakash.
Dr Singh will begin his four-day visit to South Korea by laying a wreath at the Memorial Tower at the National Cemetery on Sunday and then hold talks with President Lee.
An agreement on simplifying issuance of visas between India and South Korea would be signed after talks between the two. The two leaders are also expected to issue a joint statement after the talks.
Dr. Singh said he would also underline India’s continuing support to a world free from nuclear weapons. The aim of the summit is to focus attention of countries with considerable nuclear capabilities on the threat posed by nuclear terrorism, he said.
“But what is worrying India is not only nuclear terrorism but also clandestine of theft of nuclear material something like the yellow cake at times stolen from mines,”
The Summit is expected to be attended by 45 heads of states including US President Barack Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao and representatives from both UN and EU. Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is also participating in the two-day meet but there is no certainty on his meeting with Dr Singh.
India is expanding its nuclear power programme to diversify its energy mix and enhance energy security, Dr. Singh said. But we must be able to assure them of the highest levels of nuclear security and safety, he said.
“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.
Dr. 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 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 said.
Besides the Nuclear Summit Dr. Singh is scheduled to hold bilateral 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 Singh and 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. 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.
Dr 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.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Dr Singh would meet Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, who may discuss the abduction of two Italian nationals by Maoists in Odisha and the court case of two naval officers accused of killing Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast. The Prime Minister will also meet his Norwegian counterpart Jens Stoltenberg. India and Norway have gone though some testy times over the issue of two NRI children being put under foster care by Norwegian authorities.