GENEVA: Pakistan on Monday held up the resumption of nuclear arms control negotiations at the UN Conference on Disarmament as it asked to reopen a work plan already agreed on by the main nuclear powers.
The Pakistan delegation, which on Friday asked for more time to consult with Islamabad, on Monday said it wanted fresh discussions on procedural questions in a draft text detailing the various heads of negotiating groups and the timetable for the talks.
‘I was told by the Pakistan (delegation) that they have received instructions and the instructions are to reopen the text that I thought we had agreed on,’ said Caroline Millar, the Australian chairwoman of the conference.
‘I’m concerned that the compromise that we have may be put in jeopardy,’ she added.
Disarmament negotiations have been stalled since 1996 but a thaw in US-Russia relations following Barack Obama’s arrival in the White House, and a renewed superpower pledge to back the separate Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, generated fresh momentum.
Pakistan holds up start of UN nuclear disarmament talks
GENEVA: Pakistan on Monday held up the resumption of nuclear arms control negotiations at the UN Conference on Disarmament as it asked to reopen a work plan already agreed on by the main nuclear powers.
The Pakistan delegation, which on Friday asked for more time to consult with Islamabad, on Monday said it wanted fresh discussions on procedural questions in a draft text detailing the various heads of negotiating groups and the timetable for the talks.
‘I was told by the Pakistan (delegation) that they have received instructions and the instructions are to reopen the text that I thought we had agreed on,’ said Caroline Millar, the Australian chairwoman of the conference.
‘I’m concerned that the compromise that we have may be put in jeopardy,’ she added.
Disarmament negotiations have been stalled since 1996 but a thaw in US-Russia relations following Barack Obama’s arrival in the White House, and a renewed superpower pledge to back the separate Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, generated fresh momentum.
