Nuclear code promoted in Paris

PARIS, France -- Politicians from 78 countries are attending a conference to help produce international guidelines aimed at curbing the proliferation of ballistic missiles.

The guidelines would look to make it difficult for countries to buy missiles from exporting nations and to improve weapons monitoring systems.

Conference participants include India and Pakistan -- who have both tested nuclear weapons and who are currently involved in a military stand-off in Kashmir -- and Israel which is widely believed to be a nuclear power although it has never admitted having such weapons

The five original nuclear powers -- the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China -- are also at the Paris conference.

Gerard Errera, the French Foreign Ministry's deputy director of political affairs, said he hoped the 'International Code of Conduct against the Proliferation of Ballistic Missiles' would become an important instrument in the quest for world stability and peace.

"The fact that so many accepted our invitation is a reason for optimism," he added, in his opening conference speech.

"This is a sign that the international community has assessed the challenges that are tied to the development -- qualitative and quantitative -- of ballistic capabilities."

The conference also wants to get feedback on the need to share information about missile testing.

The code would also call on nations to exercise "maximum restraint" in the development and deployment of ballistic missiles.

Signatories would voluntarily declare their country's missile policy and its missile launchers each year.

And they would also be encouraged to allow international observers at their launch sites and to notify any other states in advance of any missile launches and test flights.

The code was first proposed by French President Jacques Chirac in June 2000 and then drawn up by the Missile Technology Control Regime, or MTCR, an international pact that tries to discourage the export of weapons of mass destruction.

Only North Korea and Syria refused their invitations, French diplomatic sources told The Associated Press.

North Korea is reported to have provided upgraded Scud-type missiles to Egypt, Iran, Libya, Pakistan and Syria.

The Washington-based Arms Control Association, says 28 states possess ballistic missiles.