Singh: Nuke terrorism a legitimate concern

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said nuclear terrorism and proliferation of sensitive technologies are "legitimate concerns" and require "firm response".

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said nuclear terrorism and proliferation of sensitive technologies are "legitimate concerns" and require "firm response".

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Singh will leave for Washington on Saturday to attend the nuclear security summit.

In his pre-departure statement here, Singh said every country should "ensure the highest standards of security, which reinforce public faith in the benefits of nuclear science" as nuclear energy is "poised to play a growing role in addressing the developmental challenges of our times."

He said India was an "important stakeholder" in this endeavour and he hoped the summit to focus on "nuclear terrorism and proliferation of sensitive nuclear materials and technologies."

"These are legitimate concerns which require firm responses," the Prime Minister said.

The two-day summit starting April 12, an initiative of US President Barack Obama, will focus on dangers posed by clandestine proliferation and illicit trafficking of nuclear material.

Stressing on India's non-proliferation track records, he said, "We have an impeccable record of security, safety and non-proliferation which reflects our conduct as a responsible nuclear power."

He will also meet President Obama, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai there.

From Washington, Singh will leave for Brasilia to attend the fourth IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) summit and the second BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) Summit.