Optimism is on the table Ray Acheson | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF
Front page article 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, 4 May 2009
When it comes to nuclear weapons, there is much anticipation
of a new chapter in international security and disarmament.
US President Obama’s 5 April speech in Prague, coupled
with the proliferation of newspaper op-eds calling for the
elimination of nuclear weapons, has made the topic of nuclear
disarmament more popular than it has been since the 1980s.
Recent policy declarations like the Prague speech and the
joint statement between Obama and Medvedev have increased
many governments’ and NGOs’ level of optimism.
Everyone, however, should be sure to consider the substantial
challenges on the PrepCom’s plate.
Some of these challenges—and opportunities—have
been laid out in a variety of working papers submitted to
this review cycle so far. They consist of a good mix of disarmament
and non-proliferation proposals, including (in no specific
order):1
• Revitalizing or restructuring the “practical
steps” to nuclear disarmament;
• Strengthening states’ commitments to the NPT
with a “new consensus”;
• Implementing the 1995 NPT resolution on the Middle
East;
• Regular reporting;
• Considering negotiation of a Nuclear Weapons Convention;
• Prohibiting the development of new types of nuclear
weapons;
• Drafting a binding protocol on negative security assurances;
• Recognizing and strengthening various nuclear weapon
free zones;
• Adopting the IAEA Additional Protocol as the safeguard
standard;
• Developing national means to detect and reverse non-compliance;
• Endorsing compliance enforcement by the UN Security
Council;
• Requiring “adequate security” as condition
of transfer of nuclear materials;
• Recognizing export control regimes;
• Establishing principles and response mechanisms for
withdrawal;
• Considering steps to promote disarmament/non-proliferation
education;
• Considering ways to control the nuclear fuel cycle;
and
• Establishing a Universality Adherence Support Unit
and/or a standing secretariat.
Much food for thought is provided in these proposals. However,
basic underlying tensions will continue to plague delegations
at this PrepCom, such as: the continued debate between non-proliferation
first or disarmament first; the tensions between those accused
of non-compliance with their obligation to disarm and those
accused of non-compliance with their commitment to not develop
or acquire nuclear weapons; and the overwhelming non-implementation
of the 13 practical steps to nuclear disarmament.
Furthermore, despite rhetoric calling for the elimination
of nuclear weapons from western policy elites, their conception
of the process of disarmament process is characterized by
steps and conditions to be imposed almost exclusively on non-nuclear
weapon states. If this sort of narrow, self-interested pursuit
of nuclear disarmament through non-proliferation is upheld
at the PrepCom, it will likely be the biggest stumbling block
to success. Only when disarmament and non-proliferation efforts
move forward jointly, will success be achieved.
As an NGO dedicated to nuclear abolition, WILPF welcomes
all the new attention to disarmament. WILPF encourages more
leaders and people to speak out, loudly, in favour of abolishing
nuclear weapons and to engage in good faith dialogue about
the proposals, challenges, and opportunities ahead of us.
Notes
1. See Michael Spies, “Toward 2010: Proposals, Positions
and Prospects,” Disarmament Diplomacy, No 90, Spring
2009 [forthcoming] for details.
