"Nuclear non-proliferation is the only issue. We should not allow this to cloud or hamper progress in our bilateral relations," Hiroshi Hirabayashi, Japanese ambassador to India, told PTI in a wide-ranging interview.The Japanese ambassador spoke at length on non-proliferation issues, including India's stand on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Tokyo's keenness to normalise ties with New Delhi. He said Japan appreciated various steps taken by India including announcement of unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests and its moving towards adherence to CTBT by September this year besides sticking to its commitment to no-first use of nuclear weapons and its non-use against countries not possessing such weapons.

"If India will sign andratify the CTBT, we would resume economic cooperation in areas of basic human needs like poverty alleviation, environment, basic education," he said, adding "we are waiting for concrete action".

"Japan is in favour of creating atmosphere conducive to India signing and ratifying CTBT" and make "this job easier for the Vajpayee government," he said. Tokyo has proposed a direct dialogue on security issues between the defence ministry and the Japanese defence agency "in the near future", he said.

The two sides are working out details for meeting at the official and expert levels specifically on nuclear non-proliferation issues.

As part of high-level contacts, another meeting was slated to be held between ST Devare, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry and his Japanese counterpart on February 22, Hirabayashi said.Acknowledging India's impeccable record in control of export of nuclear and missile technology, he said Japan hoped New Delhi would make further efforts to make the legalframework more strict. Tokyo, he said, was waiting for conclusion of negotiations on the fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT) and would appreciate a sort of moratorium being declared by India on production of fissile materials.

"We are also watching carefully how India will define minimum nuclear deterrence and deployment posture," he said.Asked whether any country would like to specify such deterrence keeping in view security interests, Hirabayashi evaded a direct reply observing "we are not engaged in a dialogue on the issue". Stating that Japan, as one of the members of the group of eight industrialised nations (G-8), understood to some extent India's security concerns and reasoning, he said Tokyo "continues to believe that in the long run, India is expected to adhere to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) system". Maintaining that India and Japan have nurtured long, friendly relations with mutual respect for each other's concerns, Hirabayashi explained that the strong reaction to the nuclearexplosions came out of deep conviction of the Japanese people to vigorously promote non-proliferation regime.