Working Paper Submitted by Switzerland

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Elements for a new action plan

Working paper submitted by Switzerland

The Conference (…) affirms that the achievement of the following additional practical measures is important for the full realization and effective implementation of article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and of the "Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament" adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference.

1. Confidence-building measures to increase the transparency of efforts undertaken fully to realize and implement the "Principles and Objectives"

Nuclear-weapon States shall systematically inform of changes to their nuclear arsenals and of progress achieved with respect to nuclear disarmament.

2. Further systematic and progressive reductions in nuclear weapons on the basis of Article VI, with a view to their complete elimination

(a) Given the size of their nuclear forces, the United States of America and the Russian Federation have a special responsibility to reduce their nuclear arsenals, and in particular fully to implement START II and conclude START III negotiations without further delay.

(b) At an appropriate time, other nuclear-weapon States shall take part in negotiations leading to the ultimate goal of eliminating nuclear weapons globally.

(c) The elimination of tactical (sub-strategic) nuclear weapons shall be included in formal disarmament processes.

(d) All efforts to reduce nuclear arsenals shall include the complete and irreversible elimination of nuclear warheads, including the placing of fissile materials from those warheads under IAEA safeguards.

3. Further multilateral nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts

(a) While waiting for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty to enter into force, all the parties with nuclear potentials listed in Annex 2 of this Treaty shall observe moratoria on nuclear testing.

(b) While waiting for the conclusion of the negotiations of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive purposes, States shall adopt transparency measures in this field and shall observe production moratoria.

(c) Efforts in the area of legally binding and global security assurances should be intensified.

(d) The deployment of national missile defence systems should neither endanger nuclear disarmament nor trigger new nuclear arms races.