Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

News in Brief
Ray Acheson and Beatrice Fihn | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF

News in Brief section from the NPT News in Review, the daily NGO newsletter from the
2010 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference
Tuesday, 4 May 2010

Complete PDF of this edition

Disarmament

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Austria, and Switzerland expressed support for a nuclear weapons convention. That is 62% of the states parties to the NPT (see NWC in Brief for details).
The UN Secretary-General emphasized the need for simultaneous efforts on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, arguing, “Progress on disarmament cannot await a world free of war, nuclear proliferation, or terrorism,” and “progress on non-proliferation cannot await the elimination of the last nuclear weapon.”
The UN Secretary-General also announced he will visit Hiroshima on 6 August where he will reiterate the UN's stand for a world free of nuclear weapons.
The NAM took note of the new START, saying that it remains “below the international community's expectations which anticipate more concrete uniform and systematic nuclear disarmament efforts” involving all nuclear weapon states.
The NAM noted that the implementation of the 13 practical steps and the unequivocal undertaking of nuclear weapon states to eliminate their arsenals is crucial to the credibility of the NPT. It suggested the RevCon call for a timeframe with a list of specific actions for the implementation of Article VI and a mechanism to verify compliance of NWS.
Iran called for the establishment of “an independent international group,” authorized by the NPT, to “prepare a set of guidelines to operationalize” article VI of the NPT, and should set a deadline for complete elimination of all nuclear weapons within a specified timeframe.
Iran also called for the immediate cessation of research, development, or improvements of nuclear weapons and related facilities and the introduction of a verification mechanism.
Iran suggested the suspension of membership in the IAEA Board of Governors for states that use or threaten to use nuclear weapons.
Ireland urged the NWS to work “speedily for further substantial reductions and the eventual elimination of all nuclear weapons, including non-deployed and non-strategic nuclear weapons.”
The EU likewise urged reductions and elimination of “sub-strategic” nuclear weapons. It also called for an overall reduction in the global stockpile of nuclear weapons
The Philippines called on NWS to abandon their weapons now.
Indonesia called on NWS to “demonstrate, in deeds, not mere words, their commitment to nuclear disarmament.”
Australia urged NWS to “chart the course” to the abolition of nuclear weapons and commit to action.
Brazil described Article VI as “the seed” of the NPT's “own self-correction” from being an unfair Treaty that expresses the imbalances of the international system.
Brazil called on NWS to renounce the upgrading or development of new nuclear weapons.
Switzerland argued that nuclear weapons are useless, immoral, and illegal. It called for a debate “concerning the legitimacy of the use of nuclear weapons regardless of the legitimacy of the motive of defence that can be invoked,” noting that its aim “is to bring the humanitarian aspect to the heart of the current debate on nuclear disarmament.”
The Philippines said the UNSG's five-point proposal for nuclear disarmament has offered a road map for accelerating disarmament and liberating resources for climate change, food insecurity, and the MDGs.

Non-proliferation

Indonesia, an Annex 2 country of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), declared that it is initiating the process to ratify the Treaty.
The UN Secretary-General suggested that states consider “an alternative mechanism” for brining the CTBT into effect.
The UN Secretary-General also noted that he would convene a ministerial meeting of the Conference on Disarmament on the sidelines of the General Assembly in New York in autumn 2010 in regards to the fissile material (cut-off) treaty.
The UN Secretary-General encouraged states to accept the IAEA's additional protocol and improve its system of safeguards.
The EU called for comprehensive safeguards agreement and additional protocol to become the verification standard.
Australia noted that it has made adherence to the additional protocol a condition of supply of its uranium.
Bulgaria called for full implementation of UNSC resolution 1540.

Nuclear energy and the fuel cycle

Iranian President Ahmadeinejad declared that his government has accepted the nuclear fuel supply proposal put forward by the IAEA; though the UN Secretary-General called on Iran to accept the deal.
The US delegation announced that it would allocate $50 million to IAEA for new peaceful uses initiative to help countries develop infrastructure for nuclear power.
The NAM said there is no room for reinterpretation or setting of conditions on Article IV.
Morocco called for an international coalition to enhance the contribution of nuclear energy to economic and social development.

Universality

Bulgaria noted that there are fundamental principles in the NPT's preamble that are universal in scope and that the RevCon should invite all non-parties to apply comprehensive IAEA safeguards on their civilian nuclear activities and cease manufacturing nuclear weapons and related materials.

Withdrawal

The NAM reaffirmed its 2005 position that proposals put forward on withdrawal then went beyond the provisions of the NPT.
The EU called for the RevCon to develop a “common understanding” on how to “respond effectively” to withdrawal.
The US stated that while not proposing to amend the NPT to limit the rights of states to withdraw, it would not stand by when a treaty violator pulls out of the NPT in an attempt to escape penalties and pursue nuclear weapons.

Nuclear weapon free zones

The US announced its intention to seek ratification of the protocols to the treaties of Pelindaba and Raratonga.
The NAM demanded the RevCon renew its unequivocal commitment to the full implementation of the 1995 resolution on a NWFZ in the Middle East.
Morocco and the EU noted the necessity of implementing the 1995 resolution.
Canada noted that it supports efforts to bring peace to the Middle East and to “make progress towards” a NWFZ in the Middle East.

Nuclear sharing

The NAM argued for a “firm and complete prohibition” on the transfer of anything nuclear to non-states parties and said the NWS should refrain from sharing nuclear knowledge or equipment as part of security arrangements with any states.
Iran called for the dismantling of nuclear weapons stationed in US military bases.

Nuclear deterrence

The NAM argued that the doctrine of nuclear deterrence is an impediment to nuclear disarmament and does not bring peace or international security.
The Philippines urged for finding a way to “wean nations away from their reliance on deterrence” and “replace deterrence with diplomacy”.
Ireland reminded delegates that the NPT provides “an infinitely more effective shield against a nuclear holocaust than the most costly armoury of offensive and defensive equipment.”
Switzerland noted there has not been a fundamental shift in thinking in the role of nuclear weapons by NWS.
The US argued that they would retain a nuclear deterrent for as long as nuclear weapons exist in order to protect their country and their allies.

Transparency

The US announced that it would publicly release the size of its nuclear stockpile for the first time (http://www.defense.gov/npr/)

Institutional reform

Austria announced that they would seek to financially and politically support the establishment of a unit for the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs in Vienna.
Canada highlighted its working paper (WP.4) on institutional reform, which calls for strengthening the review process and related structures.

Civil society

Austria said it would seek to establish a “hub of expertise” in Vienna, consisting of experts on nuclear disarmament.