Netherlands backs UNSC, NSG bids

  • The Netherlands backed India’s early entry into the NSG and other multilateral export control regimes, and supported the country’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat. 
  • Both leaders agreed that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group would benefit from India’s membership.
  • The Netherlands expressed its support for India’s early membership to the 48-member NSG and the Wassenaar Arrangement.
  • For the Australia Group, the Netherlands welcomed India’s recent application for membership.

About NSG/AG/Wassenaar Arrangement:

  • Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials. The NSG was founded in response to the Indian nuclear test in May 1974 to stop what it called the misuse of nuclear material meant for peaceful purposes. Currently, it has 48 members and European Commission is its Permanent Observer.
  • The Australia Group is an informal group of countries (now joined by the European Commission) established in 1985 (after the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in 1984) to help member countries to identify those exports which need to be controlled so as not to contribute to the spread of chemical and biological weapons. It now has 42 members, including the European Commission, all 28 member states of the European Union, Ukraine, and Argentina. The name comes from Australia’s initiative to create the group. Australia manages the secretariat.
  • The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies, commonly known as the Wassenaar Arrangement, is a multilateral export control regime (MECR) with 41 participating states including many former COMECON (Warsaw Pact) countries. The Wassenaar Arrangement was established to contribute to regional and international security and stability by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, thus preventing destabilizing accumulations.

India is not a member country of the above cited groups.

Source:TH/WIKI

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