News in Brief Michael Spies | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF
News in Brief section from the NPT News
in Review, the daily NGO newsletter from the third session
of the
Preparatory Committee for the 2010 nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty Review Conference Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Preparation for 2010
The Chair of the PrepCom stated that he would like states
to take decisions on several issues related to the 2010 RevCon
on Wednesday, including the RevCon’s agenda, chair,
and dates.
RevCon Agenda
• The Chair announced he is still awaiting feedback
from delegations on the RevCon agenda, which he would like
states to adopt on Wednesday.
• Canada said it would not object to using the agenda
from the 2000 RevCon, with appropriate technical updates.
• The NAM reiterated its call for separate subsidiary
bodies on disarmament, security assurances, and on the Middle
East.
Chair’s working paper
• The Chair announced on Friday he would circulate draft
elements on substantive recommendations, identifying steps
ready for consensus, drawn from practical initiatives contained
in statements and working papers.
RevCon Chair
• The chair announced the Non-Aligned Movement had nominated
the Ambassador from the Philippines to chair the 2010 RevCon.
RevCon Dates
• The chair announced states would need to take a decision
postponing the RevCon one week, to 3–28 May 2010, necessary
to accommodate refurbishment of UN headquarters.
Highlights from General Debate, Day 1:
Secretary-General
• UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon personally addressed
the opening of an NPT conference for the first time.1
He applauded recent high level statements, particularly by
NWS Russia and the United States as part of a recent cascade
of disarmament proposals intended to “slay the nuclear
monster”. Toward achieving a positive outcome in 2010,
he urged delegations to focus on elements where agreement
was possible and to avoid absolutist positions that have no
chance of gain consensus.
Balanced Implementation of the Treaty in 2010
• Toward achieving a progressive and consensual outcome
in 2010, a number of delegations outlined elements of possible
package approaches for the RevCon. Most delegations generally
emphasized the importance of maintaining balance between the
three pillars of the Treaty at the RevCon.
• The Arab Group outlined five areas where consensus
should be sought, including: coherent and balanced progress
in implementing the three pillars; legally binding negative
security assurances; a comprehensive action plan to achieve
universality through binding steps; reaffirming the right
to peaceful uses of nuclear energy; and reinvigorating the
Conference on Disarmament.
• Japan reiterated the 11 benchmarks for nuclear disarmament,
proposed by Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone on 27 April
2009. The benchmarks are organized into three substantive
areas, including: disarmament steps by all weapons possessing
states; multilateral measures; and measures to support and
ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Japan also announced
it will hold a disarmament conference before the 2010 RevCon.
• The New Agenda Coalition said the 2010 should build
on previous agreements.
• The Republic of Korea called for the following five
steps to strengthen the NPT regime: universal adherence to
IAEA comprehensive safeguards and the Additional Protocol;
• The UK announced that in June 2009 it would publish
“The Road to 2010,” following from March 2009
remarks of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
• The EU and France reiterated the validity of the 2007
EU plan of action for disarmament, presented to the UN General
Assembly, based on concrete and balanced action on the three
pillars.
Strengthening Safeguards and Non-Proliferation
• Several delegations expressed support for the IAEA
Additional Protocol as the safeguard standard, including Russia,
Canada, Australia, the EU, and New Zealand.
• Egypt warned against subjecting states to higher safeguards
standards than those contained in the Treaty.
Signifying growing concern over the vitality of the NPT bargain,
the NAM said that nuclear cooperation with non-NPT parties
is a matter of concern. The NAM also said that the NWS must
not share nuclear weapons-related technology or knowledge
under any circumstances.
• The EU and Canada continued to cite Iran as a matter
of concern. While Canada urged Iran to implement relevant
UN Security Council resolutions and restore international
confidence in its nuclear programmes, the EU and China stressed
the need for diplomacy and the early resumption of negotiations.
Japan urged Iran to respond positively to efforts to achieve
a diplomatic solution.
• Participants in the Six Party Talks expressed divergent
views on the DPRK. China appealed for calm. Japan called on
the DPRK to implement UN Security Council resolution 1718
and the 2005 Joint Statement. The ROK noted the issue was
vital for the integrity of the Treaty.
Nuclear Energy and the Fuel Cycle
• The NAM called on the RevCon to reiterate language
agreed to in 2000, respecting every state’s choices
in pursuing nuclear energy.
• The IAEA announced it had reached its funding target
for establishment of a low enriched uranium fuel bank and
that the Director would be submitted a proposal to the IAEA
Board in June 2009.
Disarmament
• Several delegations called for implementation of the
13 steps, including the Arab Group, the NAM, Ireland, and
Mexico.
• The majority of delegations2
welcomed recent top level reaffirmations of achieving disarmament
from Russia and the United States. These delegation in particular
welcomed the renewed US commitment to the CTBT, a verifiable
FMCT, and the US/Russia pledge to pursue a follow on to START.
• The NAM said the RevCon should establish a timeframe
for implementation of Article VI and adopt measures to verify
this objective.
• The New Agenda Coalition said it will table a working
paper on recommendations for moving disarmament forward.
• Russia suggested a number of measures to create an
atmosphere conducive for moving forward nuclear disarmament,
including: banning weapons from space; banning the creating
of conventional strategic weapons; avoiding establishment
of recoverable nuclear capabilities; and withdrawing nuclear
weapons and missile defences to inside national territories.
• Malaysia suggested that taking nuclear weapons off
alert as a complimentary qualitative step that could be taken
a in conjunction with quantitative arms reductions.
Nuclear Weapon Free Zones
• Mexico called for second NWFZ conference ahead of
RevCon.
• Mongolia reported on the first meeting of focal points
between itself and the other NWFZs. It was not able to report
any progress on a Treaty with China and Russia to consolidate
its nuclear weapon free status.
Withdrawal from the Treaty
• Japan said states must adopt means to respond to treaty
violators that withdraw from the NPT.
• The NAM remained steadfast in its position that current
proposals go beyond the Treaty and that the right to withdraw
should be governed by international treaty law.
Middle East
• Egypt and the Arab Group emphasized the connection
between the decision to indefinitely extend the Treaty and
the 1995 resolution on the Middle East. The Arab Group warned
that all the outcomes from 1995, including the indefinite
extension, would be compromise if the resolution remained
unimplemented.
• The New Agenda Coalition called for concrete measures
for the implementation of the 1995 resolution.
• The EU reiterated its call for states in the region
to create zones free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass
destruction.
• Following from Egypt’s proposals to the 2008
PrepCom, Russia said it will provide proposals to current
PrepCom.
Institutional Reform
• Canada continued to push for permanent institutional
support for the NPT, announcing it would table another working
paper on the subject.
• Ireland expressed support for Canada’s proposal
of looking toward shorter annual meetings of states parties.
Notes
1. The Secretary-General sent an opening message
to the 2007 PrepCom, delivered by an official from the Office
of Disarmament Affairs.
2. Including: the NAM, the NAC, the EU, Canada, the Arab Group,
Ireland, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia,
Algeria, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, and
Nigeria.
