Working Paper Submitted by Germany for Main Committee I

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Draft elements on principles
to promote nuclear disarmament

Working paper submitted by Germany for Main Committee I

The German delegation believes that the final document of the Review Conference could usefully include reference to principles which would give guidance and promote further nuclear disarmament. It proposes that the attached principles be included in the final document:
The Conference agrees that the principles of transparency, irreversibility, confidence-building and accountability constitute an indispensable framework to further nuclear disarmament.

The Conference also agrees that the principle of irreversibility should guide all measures in the field of nuclear disarmament and arms control, as a contribution to the maintenance and reinforcement of international peace, security and stability, taking these conditions into account. The Conference notes that the application of the principle of irreversibility is not compatible with measures that undermine the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime.

The Conference expresses its conviction that increased transparency as a voluntary confidence-building measure supports mutual confidence and furthers progress in nuclear disarmament. The nuclear-weapon States Parties to the Treaty undertake to examine and, where possible, apply to themselves, measures as those already taken by some nuclear-weapon States Parties.

The Conference confirms that confidence-building remains an essential instrument of cooperative security policy in the twenty-first century. It underpins international security and stability and thus furthers the process of nuclear disarmament. The Conference notes the statement of the nuclear-weapon States Parties to the Treaty that none of their nuclear weapons are targeted at any State. The Conference invites the nuclear-weapon States Parties to the Treaty to build in the forthcoming review period on this.

The Conference is convinced that accountability by the nuclear-weapon States Parties to the Treaty strengthens the Treaty. The Conference invites the nuclear-weapon States Parties to the Treaty to use appropriate multilateral forums, such as the strengthened review process, for continuing and enhancing their accountability.