ATHENS (GREECE): President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Thursday asserted that India had always stood for nuclear non-proliferation and its nuclear programme was meant for peaceful purposes.

"India has been using nuclear energy for developmental and peaceful purposes in the field of agriculture and for medical purposes," Mr. Kalam said in response to a question on nuclear issue and the standoff on Iran's nuclear programme.

He said India's nuclear policy was based on "no first use and complete disarmament" though it had made some weapons. India "wanted to see complete disarmament, we are supporting it but the initiative has to come from institutions and countries who have a large number of nuclear warheads."

On the Iran issue, Mr. Kalam reiterated India's view that nuclear power should be used for peaceful purposes such as power generation and medical purposes.

His reply came after delegation-level talks between India and Greece at the Presidential Palace, where he met his Greece counterpart Karolos Papoulias. The two Presidents also witnessed signing of two agreements between the two countries — one on cooperation in the field of science and technology and the other on business investment protection.

Human trafficking

Asked whether illegal human trafficking, which was posing a serious problem in India, also figured during the discussions, Mr. Papoulias said it was a "disgrace to our societies." Both Greece and India would take a decision on fighting the scourge.

In his opening remarks at the Presidential Palace after he was accorded a ceremonial welcome and presented a guard of honour, Mr. Kalam expressed the hope that bilateral trade would increase to over $1 billion by 2010 from $620 million.

Both Presidents stressed upon "old ties" between the two nations and vowed to further strengthen relations.

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