NAM members opt for compromise on NPT<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): The 112-nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) chose
\nto compromise yesterday by adopting a consensus statement on the
\nextension of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), though
\nthey did so without taking a stance on whether or not to extend
\nthe treaty indefinitely.<\/p>\n
In a seven-point document entitled Results of the Exchange of
\nViews on the Review and Extension of the NPT, the issue of
\nindefinite extension was only referred to in the last point,
\nwhich underlined the already existing options for extension.<\/p>\n
\"It is true that, in the end, we opted not to try for a common
\nposition on the extension itself,\" said Indonesian Minister of
\nForeign Affairs Ali Alatas here yesterday.<\/p>\n
However, Alatas still stressed the significance of the
\ndocument. \"What is important of this common stance is that we
\nhave agreed on many other common aspects,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The issue of extending the NPT dominated the three-day
\nMinisterial Meeting of the NAM Coordinating Bureau, which ended
\nyesterday in Bandung, West Java, 180-kilometers south of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The importance of the issue was amplified during the meeting
\nby the current NPT review conference, which is taking place in
\nNew York to determine whether it should be extended indefinitely
\nor in fixed periods.<\/p>\n
Yesterday morning, delegates indicated the existence of a
\nsplit between those in favor and opposed to an indefinite
\nextension.<\/p>\n
A Benin delegate, Georges A. Whannou, acknowledged that the
\ngreat diversity among NAM members was behind the failure to find
\na common stance on the issue of indefinite extension.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, as NAM chairman, had indicated that it would like
\nNAM to adopt a common stance on the NPT. Indonesia has also been
\nvocal in expressing its objection to indefinite extension.<\/p>\n
South African Foreign Minister Alfred B. Nzo, a supporter of
\nindefinite extension, explained his position: \"Termination of the
\ntreaty, whether this comes about by placing conditions on its
\nfuture existence or by extending it only for a fixed period, is
\nnot an acceptable option.\"<\/p>\n
Tunisia's Secretary of State to Foreign Affairs, Said Ben
\nMustafa, also admitted that a number of difficulties were
\nencountered in the meeting.<\/p>\n
Mustafa indicated, however, that the chairman of the meeting,
\nAli Alatas, was able to steer the meeting away from too much
\ndissension by trying to incorporate different views on the
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
Stance<\/p>\n
Minister Alatas said after the meeting that it was important
\nto note that NAM \"succeeded in agreeing on a common stance on
\nvarious aspects of the review and extension.\"<\/p>\n
The common stance referred to by Alatas includes the need for
\na disarmament regime to meet the security needs of all countries.<\/p>\n
These include a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the
\nelimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of nuclear
\nweapon free zones.<\/p>\n
The Ministerial Meeting also ended yesterday with the adoption
\nof a 110-paragraph Final Communique covering a variety of
\ninternational, economic and political issues.<\/p>\n
Among the highlights of the Communique are the reforms of the
\nUN Security Council.<\/p>\n
The meeting's Rapporteur General Sayed K. ElMassry of Egypt
\nreported to the assembly that the movement agreed to take a
\ncommon position on the issue of UN reforms, but decided to defer
\nadoption of the working paper for further consideration in the
\nNAM Working Group in New York.<\/p>\n
ElMassry said that discussion on reforms, especially on veto
\npowers, should be examined as an integral part of a common
\npackage which take into account the sovereign equality of states
\nand equitable distribution.<\/p>\n
The ministers also adopted the working paper on the Solemn
\nDeclaration of the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the
\nUN and the working paper on the Agenda for Development.<\/p>\n
In his emotional closing speech, Alatas said: \"Indeed, after
\nevery meeting that we convene such as this, we grow more unified
\nin our approaches, more coordinated in our actions, and more
\neffective in our participation in international decision making.\"<\/p>\n
He said the meeting had addressed many urgent international
\npolitical issues such as the \"great tragedies of our time,
\nforemost of which are the carnage in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the
\ninternecine armed struggle in Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi\".<\/p>\n
As the meeting closed, delegates yesterday were given an hour
\nto make it to a train bound for Jakarta, where President Soeharto
\nis to open a major exhibition of art from the Non-Aligned
\nCountries. (mds\/swe)<\/p>",
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