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 | 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
Monday, 10 May 2010

Complete PDF of this edition

Main Committee I

Action plans

The NAM outlined its 3 phase disarmament action plan: 2010–2015, reducing nuclear threats and measures for nuclear disarmament; 2015–2020, reducing arsenals and promoting confidence; 2020–2025, consolidation of a nuclear weapon free world.
The Philippines called for benchmarks and timelines for nuclear disarmament, which should be actualized through an NWC or series of agreements in accordance with article VI.
Switzerland called for updating the 13 steps and going beyond, adding a timeline for implementation, supported the UNSG’s call for an NWC, and called for the RevCon to reaffirm the objective of nuclear weapon free world.
South Africa said the provisions of the NPT and the outcomes of 1995 and 2000 provide a blueprint for the process to reduce threat of nuclear weapons, deemphasize their importance, and lead to their elimination.
Canada called for an action plan beyond 2010, highlighting Australia-Japan and NAC ideas and the UNSG’s five-point plan.
France called on all states to create conditions that will ultimately enable the elimination of nuclear weapons in a world that will guarantee peace and stability without setting off a new arms race.
Japan highlighted Australia-Japan package proposal for action plan.
The US said the Australia-Japan proposal is the most practical and realistic starting point.
Brazil called for commitment to conclude an NWC.
Italy called for an ambitious but achievable plan based on 13 steps.
Argentina called for a continuous process of nuclear disarmament that would incorporate all nuclear weapon possessors.
Iran called for an ad hoc committee in the CD to negotiate an NWC.

Doctrine

The NAM said the final document should note with concern the security doctrines of NWS and NATO and that it should agree nuclear weapons in security doctrines undermine disarmament commitment and spirit and letter of NPT.
The Philippines and Switzerland urged NWS to adopt no first use policies.
The NAC and Japan urged NWS to take further steps to diminish the role of nuclear weapons.
Switzerland called for discussion on the legitimacy of the use of nuclear weapons.
Canada said it will continue to work with NATO to advance common positions on Alliance nuclear posture and sub-strategic nuclear weapons in the context of the Strategic Concept Review, being “mindful of our collective security requirements and the long-term goal of achieving a world without nuclear weapons.”
France said the RevCon should call on NWS to adopt a “strict sufficient posture,” limiting the use of nuclear weapons to when “vital interests” are attacked.
The US said it wants to “extend forever the 65-year record of non-use of nuclear weapons.”
Brazil argued nuclear weapons are not needed to deter NNWS or terrorist attacks and thus nuclear deterrence doctrines only apply to NWS and their relations among themselves. It noted the concept of “undiminished security for all” is not for all if it is based on nuclear weapons and called for reduction of role for nuclear weapons in doctrine

Reductions

The NAM, Philippines, NAC, Switzerland, South Africa, and the EU called for further nuclear arsenal reductions incorporating all types of nuclear weapons.
South Africa and Argentina emphasized that reductions are not the same as elimination.
Russia argued that elimination of nuclear weapons can only be discussed as ultimate goal under strict compliance with principle of security for all.
Japan called for further bilateral and multilateral reductions.

Transparency, irreversibility, and verification

The NAM, Philippines, NAC, Switzerland, South Africa, Japan, Brazil, EU, and Italy highlighted the importance of these principles as applied to nuclear disarmament.
In a joint statement, Russia and the US said the reductions under new START will be verifiable and irreversible and demonstrate commitment to article VI and a NWFW.Canada said all states should report on their implementation of the 13 steps as everyone committed to do in 2000.
France said all NWS should disclose the size of their nuclear arsenals.
The US said the IAEA’s verification experience can be applied to the disarmament process, noting that NWS may choose to place fissile materials under IAEA verification.

Nuclear sharing

The NAM and Iran stressed the importance of implementing articles I and II and refraining from nuclear sharing.

Vertical and horizontal proliferation

The NAM and the NAC said NWS should declare moratoria on upgrading and developing new missions for or new types of nuclear weapons.
Switzerland said NWS should not increase their arsenals quantitatively or qualitatively.
France and the US said stopping proliferation is necessary for disarmament.
Indonesia said efforts against proliferation must be carried out with respect for multilateralism, and international law, and non-discrimination.
Iran called for a prohibition on research, development, modernization, and production of new nuclear weapons or delivery systems and a ban on the construction of any new facility for such activities.

Operational status

Switzerland and Brazil called for reductions in operational status of nuclear weapon systems.

Security assurances

The NAM, Philippines, and witzerland called for legally-binding NSAs.
Japan called for stronger NSAs.
Brazil called for resumption of discussion of NSAs in CD.
Brazil and Argentina called for NWS to withdraw reservations from NWFZ treaties.
France argued that more than 100 states benefit from French security assurances, noting that it is party to the largest number of NWFZ protocols.
Indonesia noted that not all NNWS have NSAs through NWFZs because not all have entered into force.
The EU argued that both positive and negative assurances can provide a positive role in NPT regime and can serve as incentive to forgo acquisition of WMD.

CTBT

The NAM said CTBT cannot be used as an excuse for not eliminating nuclear weapons
The Philippines, Switzerland, Austria, France, Russia, Brazil, EU, Italy, and Argentina urged ratification of CTBT by annex II states and/or moratoria on testing.
South Africa welcomed the intention of the US and China to ratify the CTBT.
The European Union called for completion of the CTBTO’s verification regime and dismantlement of testing sites.

FMCT

The NAM urged an FMCT to be negotiated on basis of Shannon mandate.
The NAC said pending an FMCT, NWS should irreversibly and verifiably place excess materials under IAEA control.
Switzerland, Austria, France, Brazil, European Union, Italy, Argentina called for negotiations on FMCT and/or moratoria on fissile material production.
Canada said disarmament is advanced by reducing and securing fissile materials.
France called on states to dismantle fissile material production facilities.
The US said it hoped the IAEA would be given mandate to verify non-production of fissile materials under the FMCT.

Missiles, missile defence, and space weapons

The NAM said the final document should voice concern about national missile defence as further causing an arms race and nuclear proliferation.
Russia highlighted its draft PPWT submitted with China to the CD.
Russia reiterated its proposal to internationalize the INF Treaty.
The EU called for a start to consultations on a treaty banning short- and intermediate-range missiles ground-to-ground missiles and universal adherence to the Hague Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation.

Machinery

Canada argued that consensus has become an obstacle to starting disarmament work in CD and said that work on landmines, cluster munitions, and the arms trade show that the CD does not have a monopoly on multilateral negotiations.

Civil society

Indonesia highlighted the role of global civil society in advocacy and promoting an environment that supports nuclear disarmament.