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India will sign CTBT: Fernandes (Reuters)

Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes said Wednesday that it is only a matter of time before India signs the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), a key element in nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

Fernandes, at a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, said in Tokyo that while he was in favour of eliminating nuclear weapons, domestic politics did not allow him to do so at this time, a foreign ministry official told reporters.

"It's just a matter of time," Fernandes was quoted as saying, adding that he thought it would not be "so far in the future".

India, which carried out a series of nuclear tests in May 1998, has said it was trying to build domestic consensus on the test ban treaty before signing it.

Some analysts believe there may be concrete developments on the issue before the new United States administration takes office in January next year.

India had asked Japan earlier this year to lift economic sanctions it imposed after the nuclear tests, but the ministry official said the issue was not broached in Wednesday's talks.

Fernandes is in Tokyo to attend the memorial service of late prime minister Keizo Obuchi on Thursday.

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