Explanation of Vote on L.19 by France on behalf of the P-3

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

EOV given after the vote on L.19, UN Conference on eliminating nuclear dangers, by France on behalf of
the P-3 (French statement based on U.S. 2001 EOV).

Begin text:

Mr. Chairman. I take the floor to explain our vote against the decision contained in document

L.19.I have the honour to speak also on behalf of the United Kingdom and the United

States.

Like Mexico and most other countries, the UK the United States, and France are committed to the NPT process as the cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and the essential foundation for nuclear disarmament. We believe that to establish a separate process could conflict with this approach. For that reason we do not think that the conference proposed in document A/C.1/57/L.19 would contribute to the process of nuclear disarmament. We think it unlikely that further discussion at the fifty-eighth session would lead to change this view.

We have therefore voted against the draft decision.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

End text.