NAM members opt for compromise on NPT
NAM members opt for compromise on NPT
BANDUNG (JP): The 112-nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) chose to compromise yesterday by adopting a consensus statement on the extension of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), though they did so without taking a stance on whether or not to extend the treaty indefinitely.
In a seven-point document entitled Results of the Exchange of Views on the Review and Extension of the NPT, the issue of indefinite extension was only referred to in the last point, which underlined the already existing options for extension.
"It is true that, in the end, we opted not to try for a common position on the extension itself," said Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas here yesterday.
However, Alatas still stressed the significance of the document. "What is important of this common stance is that we have agreed on many other common aspects," he said.
The issue of extending the NPT dominated the three-day Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordinating Bureau, which ended yesterday in Bandung, West Java, 180-kilometers south of Jakarta.
The importance of the issue was amplified during the meeting by the current NPT review conference, which is taking place in New York to determine whether it should be extended indefinitely or in fixed periods.
Yesterday morning, delegates indicated the existence of a split between those in favor and opposed to an indefinite extension.
A Benin delegate, Georges A. Whannou, acknowledged that the great diversity among NAM members was behind the failure to find a common stance on the issue of indefinite extension.
Indonesia, as NAM chairman, had indicated that it would like NAM to adopt a common stance on the NPT. Indonesia has also been vocal in expressing its objection to indefinite extension.
South African Foreign Minister Alfred B. Nzo, a supporter of indefinite extension, explained his position: "Termination of the treaty, whether this comes about by placing conditions on its future existence or by extending it only for a fixed period, is not an acceptable option."
Tunisia's Secretary of State to Foreign Affairs, Said Ben Mustafa, also admitted that a number of difficulties were encountered in the meeting.
Mustafa indicated, however, that the chairman of the meeting, Ali Alatas, was able to steer the meeting away from too much dissension by trying to incorporate different views on the matter.
Stance
Minister Alatas said after the meeting that it was important to note that NAM "succeeded in agreeing on a common stance on various aspects of the review and extension."
The common stance referred to by Alatas includes the need for a disarmament regime to meet the security needs of all countries.
These include a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the elimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of nuclear weapon free zones.
The Ministerial Meeting also ended yesterday with the adoption of a 110-paragraph Final Communique covering a variety of international, economic and political issues.
Among the highlights of the Communique are the reforms of the UN Security Council.
The meeting's Rapporteur General Sayed K. ElMassry of Egypt reported to the assembly that the movement agreed to take a common position on the issue of UN reforms, but decided to defer adoption of the working paper for further consideration in the NAM Working Group in New York.
ElMassry said that discussion on reforms, especially on veto powers, should be examined as an integral part of a common package which take into account the sovereign equality of states and equitable distribution.
The ministers also adopted the working paper on the Solemn Declaration of the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the UN and the working paper on the Agenda for Development.
In his emotional closing speech, Alatas said: "Indeed, after every meeting that we convene such as this, we grow more unified in our approaches, more coordinated in our actions, and more effective in our participation in international decision making."
He said the meeting had addressed many urgent international political issues such as the "great tragedies of our time, foremost of which are the carnage in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the internecine armed struggle in Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi".
As the meeting closed, delegates yesterday were given an hour to make it to a train bound for Jakarta, where President Soeharto is to open a major exhibition of art from the Non-Aligned Countries. (mds/swe)