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 Monday, 11 May 2009
Draft recommendations to the RevCon
• The Chair circulated draft recommendations, drawn
from official statements and working papers submitted to the
PrepComs. He said his aim was to identify concrete actions
that address the implementation of the Treaty and stand reasonable
chance of gaining consensus, building upon 1995 and 200 outcomes.
He cautioned that the paper does not constitute a comprehensive
summary of proposals
• The Chair announced that the PrepCom will begin discussing
the recommendations on Tuesday morning.
Highlights from the Discussion on Regional Issues and
the Middle East Resolution
The discussion on regional issues focused largely on the
Middle East and on Northeast Asia, though it also included
discussion on Southeast and South Asia.
Middle East
• The members of the quartet continued to link to varying
degrees the peace process and steps to achieve a zone in the
Middle East free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.
• The United States reaffirmed the goals contained in
the 1995 resolution on the Middle East and pledged to work
toward its implementation.
• Many delegations continued to call for Israel’s
immediate accession to the NPT and to place its nuclear facilities
under comprehensive safeguards. These delegations included
the NAM, the Arab Group, and China.
• Several other delegations emphasized either the need
to deal with proliferation issues or the need to ensure that
regional states adhere to non-proliferation obligations as
a requisite for progress toward a WMD free zone in the region.
These delegations included the EU, Australia, and Japan.
Iran
• In the context of implementing the Middle East resolution,
a number of delegations raised the issue of Iran, including
Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Japan described Iran’s nuclear programme as
a concern and called for a peaceful resolution to the situation.
• Canada called on Iran to suspend its nuclear programme
and restore confidence.
• The United Kingdom explicitly linked the issue of
Iran to the 1995 resolution, stating that resolving the Iran
situation would contribute toward its implementation.
• The United States said it had no confidence in peaceful
nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. The United States
expressed it commitment to diplomacy, building constructive
relations, and addressing the full range of issues between
the parties. The United States stated Iran’s failure
to suspend its uranium enrichment programme, inter alia, is
a matter of concern.
Measures to implement the 1995 Resolution
• Drawing from proposals made by Egypt and the Arab
Group, Russia supported the idea of appointing a special coordinator
on the Middle East to meet intercessionally and convening
a regional conference to explore means of implementing the
1995 resolution.
• In informal remarks, the UK expressed appreciation
of the Russian paper and remarks on the subject, stating Russia
had suggested some concrete measures that it could support.
• Indonesia and the NAM expressed support for Egypt’s
proposal regarding the intercessional standing bureau with
a mandate to engage in regional consultations. China noted
the Egyptian and Arab proposals.
• A number of delegations, including the NAM, Malaysia,
the Arab Group, Iran, and Egypt called for the RevCon to adopt
a decision prohibiting nuclear trade with Israel pending its
accession to the NPT and placement of all its nuclear facilities
under safeguards.
Egypt proposed a number of practical steps (in addition to
those mentioned above), including: reconfirming the 1995 resolution
and expressing new resolve for its implementation; sharing
information on Israel’s nuclear capabilities; and establishment
of a follow up mechanism.
• The EU promoted the role of the Barcelona Process,
indicating that it would be an appropriate forum to consider
technical and political issues related to establishment of
a NWFZ in the region. The EU said the process could involve
negotiation of confidence-building measures and a regional
seminar involving regional states and the P5.
• Russia suggested regional states should agree to a
number of confidence-building measures as a step toward implementing
the 1995 resolution, including: ratification of the CTBT;
and deciding that regional states should not develop uranium
enrichment or plutonium reprocessing, contingent on the availability
of fuel supply guarantees.
Northeast Asia
• Japan and the United States said they would continue
to work with the Six Party Talks to implement the 2005 Joint
Statement.
Canada called for the PrepCom to issue a strong statement
reaffirming Security Council resolution 1718 and supporting
the fulfillment of the Six Party Talks.
• The United States characterized the DPRK as a threat
to regional peace and security.
South Asia
• Japan urged India and Pakistan to accede to the NPT,
including by upholding a moratorium on nuclear testing and
ceasing production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.
• Canada said it will strive to ensure expanding nuclear
cooperation with India serves to strengthen non-proliferation
and disarmament.
Canada called for India and Pakistan to place the full scope
of their nuclear activities under comprehensive safeguards.
Southeast Asia
• China reported it had made progress with ASEAN states
toward implementing the Protocol to the Bangkok Treaty.
