India could be willing to sign CTBT: Germany

Non-proliferation and disarmament were among global issues that were discussed between External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle.

The visiting German minister said he also discussed with Krishna the UN Security Council reforms, counter-terror cooperation, the Iranian nuclear issue and intensification of economic ties.

Lauding India’s contribution to “non-proliferation", Westerwelle said: “We are encouraged by signs that India could be willing to sign the CTBT. We will like India to move even closer to the global nuclear non-proliferation order," he told reporters after the talks.

Germany supported global exemption for India in the NSG in September 2008. India adheres to a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing, but has refused to sign the CTBT on grounds that it is discriminatory and tends to divide the world into the nuclear haves and have-nots.