NAM calls for 'realistic' NPT review
NAM calls for 'realistic' NPT review
UNITED NATIONS (Agencies): The nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty's (NPT) possible extension should be based on "realistic assessment" of all signatories' responsibilities, the representative of 111 developing countries said.
Speaking at the opening of an international conference for review and renewal of the 25-year-old treaty, Izhar Ibrahim, head of the Indonesian delegation and coordinator of the Non-Aligned Movement, called the event a "unique opportunity to assess in depth the performance of the treaty."
Ibrahim said on Monday the representatives of the total 178 signatories should conduct a "careful examination" of the treaty and "strengthen the regime in all its aspects."
He cited three main objectives aimed at reinforcing world peace and security: total elimination of nuclear weapons, promotion of the peaceful uses of atomic energy and universal adherence to the NPT.
However, the Indonesian delegate avoided on day one of the four-week conference jumping into debate with the West on the nettlesome issue of how long the treaty should be extended.
The United States and its allies are seeking indefinite, unconditional extension of the 1970 treaty. Some developing countries insist any extension be limited to one or more set periods, in hopes of pressuring the nuclear weapons powers to accelerate disarmament.
Symbolic of the mistrust between the West and the non- aligneds, no agreement was reached, either Monday or over the weekend, on the procedures for voting on extension of the treaty toward the end of the conference May 12.
The West wants a public vote, while some non-aligned nations prefer a secret ballot so they can vote without heavy-handed pressure from Washington and its allies to extend the treaty indefinitely.
Indonesia is also in favor of a secret ballot on the final vote to avoid a public showdown, an issue not settled yet by the conference. The West wants an open vote.
The U.S. and the West believe they have a majority of 90 among the 178 signatories but a slim victory would weaken the political and moral authority of the NPT, which must be renewed at the conference.
France's Alain Juppe, speaking for the European Union, kicks off the parade of foreign ministers, who are addressing the forum over the next week before hard bargaining begins.
On the fringes of the conference, which officially opened on Monday, the United States and China already clashed over Chinese plans to sell nuclear reactors to Iran.
Secretary of State Warren Christopher raised U.S. concerns over the projected deal during talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen.
The two men disagreed openly over the issue, with Christopher telling reporters that any nuclear cooperation with Tehran was "too dangerous to justify," but Qian insisting that nothing Beijing was doing conflicted with the NPT.
The NPT emerged in the late 1960s, dividing the world into nuclear powers and non-nuclear states. The United States, the Soviet Union (now Russia), China, Britain and France were allowed to keep their weapons if they pledged to work towards global disarmament.
In turn, non-nuclear states, such as Iran, had the "inalienable right" to develop, research and have access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
At the opening ceremonies UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali held out the vision of a world without nuclear weapons. "The most safe, sure and swift way to deal with the threat of nuclear arms is to do away with them in every regard," he said.
"This should be our vision of the future. No more testing. No more production. No more sales or transfers. Reduction and destruction of all nuclear weapons and the means to make them should be humanity's great common cause."