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June 5, 1998
ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
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The P-5 communique
The text of the joint statement issued
on Thursday by the five nuclear powers on the nuclear tests conducted
by India and Pakistan:
Bearing in mind the responsibility of their countries for the
maintenance of international peace and security, the foreign
ministers of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the
United States met in Geneva on June 4, 1998, to coordinate their
response to the grave situation created by the nuclear tests
carried out in May 1998 by India and then by Pakistan. The
ministers condemned these tests, expressed their deep concern about
the danger to peace and stability in the region and pledged to
cooperate closely in urgent efforts to prevent a nuclear and
missile arms race in the subcontinent, to bolster the
non-proliferation regime and to encourage reconciliation and
peaceful resolution of differences between India and Pakistan.
The ministers agreed that quick action is needed to arrestthe further escalation of regional tensions stimulated by the
recent nuclear tests. India and Pakistan should therefore stop all
further such tests. They should refrain from the weaponisation or
deployment of nuclear weapons, from the testing or deployment of
missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and from any further
production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. They should
also halt provocative statements, refrain from any military
movements that could be construed as threatening, and increase
transparency in their actions. Direct communications between the
parties could help to build confidence.
To reinforce security and stability in the region and more
widely, the five strongly believe that India and Pakistan should
adhere to the Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban Treaty immediately and
unconditionally, thereby facilitating its early entry into force.
The five also call upon India and Pakistan to participate in a
positive spirit and on the basis of the agreed mandate, in
negotiations with other states in the Conference on Disarmament for
a fissile material cut-off convention with a view to reaching early
agreement. The five will seek firm commitments by India and
Pakistan not to weaponise or deploy nuclear weapons or missiles.
India and Pakistan should also confirm their policies not to export
equipment, materials or technology that could contribute to weapons
of mass destruction or missiles capable of delivering them, and
should undertake appropriate commitments in that regard.
The ministers agreed that the international non-proliferation
regime must remain strong and effective despite the recent nuclear
tests in South Asia. Their goal continues to be adherence by all
countries, including India and Pakistan, to the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty as it stands, without any
modification. This treaty is the cornerstone of the
non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the
pursuit of nuclear disarmament. Notwithstanding their recent
nuclear tests, India and Pakistan do not have the status of nuclear
weapons states in accordance with the NPT.
The ministers concluded that efforts to resolve disputes
between India and Pakistan must be pursued with determination. The
ministers affirm their readiness to assist India and Pakistan, in a
manner acceptable to both sides, in promoting reconciliation and
cooperation. The ministers pledged that they will actively
encourage India and Pakistan to find mutually acceptable solutions,
through direct dialogue, that address the root causes of the
tension, including Kashmir, and to try to build confidence rather
than seek confrontation. In that connection, the ministers urged
both parties to avoid threatening military movements, cross-border
violations or other provocative acts.
The ministers also considered what actions the five could
take, individually or collectively, to foster peace and security in
South Asia. They will encourage India and Pakistan to adopt
practical measures to prevent an arms race. They confirmed their
respective policies to prevent the export of equipment, materials
or technology that could in any way assist programmes in India or
Pakistan for nuclear weapons or for ballistic missiles capable of
delivering such weapons. They also undertook to do all they could
to facilitate a reduction of tensions between those states and to
provide assistance, at the request of both parties, in the
development and implementation of confidence- and security-building
measures. They remain determined to fulfill their commitments
relating to nuclear disarmament under article VI of the NPT.
The ministers viewed their meeting in Geneva as setting in
motion a process aimed at strengthening peace and stability in
South Asia, at encouraging restraint by India and Pakistan, at
promoting the resolution of outstanding differences and at
bolstering the international non-proliferation regime. They will
remain fully engaged in pursuing these goals and will work actively
to build broad support in the international community for the
objectives they agreed today.
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