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Swiss think-tank warns of mounting challenge facing nuclear non-proliferation

 GENEVA, Feb 10 (KUNA) -- The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), an international body founded in 1974 to check and regulate proliferation of nuclear technology, may eventually prove ineffective and disintegrate in shadow of speedy advancements in the nuclear realm and non-restricted access to nuclear technologies worldwide, warned a Zurich-based think-tank.
The Center for Security Studies (CSS) warned in a study that the organization might cease to exist due to a host of serious challenges, namely the enormous development in the nuclear energy sector, rapid scientific advancement in the field, and economic globalization that removed a plenty of barriers, thus facilitating easy movement and smuggling of technology, know-how, and hardware.
Some states have sought independence in nuclear scientific research and others have been exporting the nuclear technology, free from international supervision, the CSS said.
Citing an example, the report noted that China planned to export nuclear reactors to Pakistan, which is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Moreover, Islamabad has refused to allow experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to have full access to its nuclear programs and documents.
The NSG was founded in 1974 in response to an Indian nuclear test earlier that year. The test demonstrated that certain non-weapons specific nuclear technology could be readily turned to weapons development. Nations already signatories of the NPT saw the need to further limit the export of nuclear equipment, material, or technology. Initially, the NSG had seven members, but in 2009, the number of members amounted to 47.
The CSS report noted that China defended its plan for such nuclear cooperation with Pakistan, arguing that it had made the deal before 2004, when Beijing became a member of the group.
Furthermore, the report mentions problems in dealing with non-signatory states of the NPT, namely Israel, India, and Pakistan. These countries carry out military nuclear program activities without international observation.
India is another problem in this respect, for New Delhi has refused to join the group and sign international nuclear treaties against proliferation. Paradoxically, India, which has achieved enormous nuclear development, being not under the international observation umbrella, has become a target of interest by super powers such as the US and France, desiring to benefit from its unique expertise in the field.
The report affirms that continuing abstention of some states from joining the NPT and the relevant anti-proliferation treaties would weaken chances of exerting pressure on the countries.
The NSG member states include all European countries, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, the Argentines, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, the US, Russia, the Ukraines, Belarussia, Kazakhestan, and the Baltic countries.
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