New Delhi, Apr 30 : Notwithstanding India and Japan deciding to move forward with discussions on civil nuclear co-operation, Tokyo today maintained that there was no change in its stand that New Delhi has to join the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, though it is not a pre-condition for the atomic deal.

“We have reminded India time and again that it has to join the NPT. This message has been repeatedly conveyed to India.

But it is not a condition, but a strong aspiration (of Japan),” Masaru Sato, Assistant Press Secretary of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, told reporters here tonight.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba have directed the negotiating teams of their respective countries to make progress in the discussions on the civil nuclear deal.

“We actually got instructions to make progress. India is a big partner…there is no doubt at all. Some issues need to be addressed. We are the only country which has been a victim of the nuclear bomb,” said Sato Refusing to mention the contentious issues, he said Japan feels very strongly about certain issues with regard to nuclear safety and it has been conveyed to India.

PTI