Working Paper Submitted by Japan and Australia

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Working paper submitted by Japan and Australia to Subsidiary Body 1 of Main Committee I

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the cornerstone for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. "Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament" adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference are a major achievement in the efforts to realize the goals of the Treaty.
The States Parties to the Treaty reaffirm their commitments to the "Principles and Objectives"and stress that the following further measures should be taken for the implementation of article VI of the Treaty and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the 1995 Decision on "Principles and Objectives".

1. The early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and moratorium on nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending the entry into force of the Treaty.

2 (a). The immediate commencement of negotiations on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices, on the basis of the report of the Special Coordinator of the Conference on Disarmament in 1995 and the mandate contained therein and their conclusion preferably before 2003, but not later than 2005, and, pending the entry into force of the treaty, a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.

2 (b). The disposition of fissile materials no longer required for defence purposes and the placement of such materials under appropriate international safeguards with a view to ensuring the irreversibility of nuclear disarmament.

3. The immediate entry into force and full implementation of START II, the early commencement and completion of the negotiations on START III and the continuation of the process beyond START III.

4. Further efforts by the nuclear-weapon States to reduce their nuclear arsenals unilaterally, and the commencement of negotiations involving the nuclear-weapon States for the reduction of nuclear weapons at an appropriate stage.

5. Multilateral discussions in the Conference on Disarmament on possible future steps on nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation.