19 April 2010
UNITED NATIONS -- Kuwait on Monday said the success of the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), scheduled to be held here on May 3rd, will be measured by the implementation of its goals, mainly the access to the Treaty by non-state parties, such as Israel.
Addressing a panel of a General Assembly one-day thematic debate on "Disarmament and World Security" called for by Assembly President Ali Treki, Kuwaiti Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi said "we believe that the success of the upcoming Conference will depend on the implementation of some of its goals and reaching some other goals, mainly the access to the Treaty by non-state parties".
"We believe that all Review Conference decisions, especially the 1995 decision on the Middle East, should be implemented. Israel should be called upon to access the NPT and place all its nuclear installations under the IAEA safeguards," he added.
He also indicated that "we have to stress during the Conference that the acquisition by nuclear states of nuclear weapons constitutes a threat to international peace and security. This is why it should prohibit the production of new nuclear weapons and should stress the importance of implementation and the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)".
Addressing the opening session, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to focus together and without delay on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in order to ensure security and stability worldwide, including in the Middle East.
"A renewed focus on disarmament and non-proliferation will greatly benefit international security and stability. But we can only achieve our goals through engaging with each other in a spirit of trust, cooperation, solidarity and mutual reliance," Ban told the gathering.
"In particular," he added, "I urge States parties (to NPT) to agree to practical measures to achieve the full implementation of the Treaty pillars, as well as its universal application, and to implement the resolution on the Middle East," he stressed, in reference to Israel and the need to get rid of its nuclear arsenals.
He recalled that the "positive" atmosphere that prevailed during the nuclear security summit in Washington last week and the US-Russian signing of a new START Treaty in Prague earlier this month "exemplify a new engagement and understanding of the importance of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferatioin".
He expressed hope that this "new political momentum contributes to a successful outcome" to the upcoming NPT Review Conference.
"Now, more than ever, a concerted effort on all fronts is needed to achieve this long-standing goal of the UN," he concluded.
Treki told the gathering that the international community cannot afford during the upcoming NPT Review Conference fail to reach a successful outcome that addresses, in a balanced manner, the rights and obligations related to the NPT Treaty.
He expressed satisfaction that a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone was established in Africa, and "I exhort the establishment of other Nuclear Weapon Free Zones around the world, including in the Middle East. In this regard, all countries, including Israel, should join the NPT and comply with relevant UN resolutions in this field".
However, he added, the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is a "legitimate aspiration of all countries that are willing to foster their economic development," insisting that these aspirations should be met in accordance with the provisions of the NPT and that this right be exercised in full cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
US Ambassador Susan Rice told the Assembly that her Government's commitment to the NPT is a "cornerstone of our security strategy".
"We look forward to the NPT Review Conference next month, when the United States and the other NPT signatories will work to reverse the spread of nuclear weapons and to build momentum for their eventual elimination.
"All nations must recognize that the nonproliferation regime is undermined if violators are allowed to act with impunity," she said in a veiled reference to Iran.
While success of the NPT Review Conference is not assured, she added, the US will work tirelessly to ensure that the NPT is strengthened.
"My delegation pledges to be a constructive, flexible, and consensus-building voice during the Review Conference to make sure that this unique opportunity is not lost. But we cannot do it alone. We encourage all delegations to put aside dated arguments and build on today's momentum to make real progress on disarmament, nonproliferation, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy," she urged.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called on all member states in the Assembly "without exception, and first and foremost those that have nuclear arsenals, to join efforts with Russia and the US in this field and to contribute actively to the disarmament process".
"We are convinced that only through collective efforts we can succeed in achieving effective disarmament and a nuclear-free world," he said, calling on the UN to maintain and enhance its role as the central forum to discuss the issues of multilateral disarmament and to encourage practical steps by all member states aimed at achieving global security.
UNITED NATIONS -- Kuwait on Monday said the success of the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), scheduled to be held here on May 3rd, will be measured by the implementation of its goals, mainly the access to the Treaty by non-state parties, such as Israel.
Addressing a panel of a General Assembly one-day thematic debate on "Disarmament and World Security" called for by Assembly President Ali Treki, Kuwaiti Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi said "we believe that the success of the upcoming Conference will depend on the implementation of some of its goals and reaching some other goals, mainly the access to the Treaty by non-state parties".
"We believe that all Review Conference decisions, especially the 1995 decision on the Middle East, should be implemented. Israel should be called upon to access the NPT and place all its nuclear installations under the IAEA safeguards," he added.
He also indicated that "we have to stress during the Conference that the acquisition by nuclear states of nuclear weapons constitutes a threat to international peace and security. This is why it should prohibit the production of new nuclear weapons and should stress the importance of implementation and the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)".
Addressing the opening session, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to focus together and without delay on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in order to ensure security and stability worldwide, including in the Middle East.
"A renewed focus on disarmament and non-proliferation will greatly benefit international security and stability. But we can only achieve our goals through engaging with each other in a spirit of trust, cooperation, solidarity and mutual reliance," Ban told the gathering.
"In particular," he added, "I urge States parties (to NPT) to agree to practical measures to achieve the full implementation of the Treaty pillars, as well as its universal application, and to implement the resolution on the Middle East," he stressed, in reference to Israel and the need to get rid of its nuclear arsenals.
He recalled that the "positive" atmosphere that prevailed during the nuclear security summit in Washington last week and the US-Russian signing of a new START Treaty in Prague earlier this month "exemplify a new engagement and understanding of the importance of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferatioin".
He expressed hope that this "new political momentum contributes to a successful outcome" to the upcoming NPT Review Conference.
"Now, more than ever, a concerted effort on all fronts is needed to achieve this long-standing goal of the UN," he concluded.
Treki told the gathering that the international community cannot afford during the upcoming NPT Review Conference fail to reach a successful outcome that addresses, in a balanced manner, the rights and obligations related to the NPT Treaty.
He expressed satisfaction that a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone was established in Africa, and "I exhort the establishment of other Nuclear Weapon Free Zones around the world, including in the Middle East. In this regard, all countries, including Israel, should join the NPT and comply with relevant UN resolutions in this field".
However, he added, the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is a "legitimate aspiration of all countries that are willing to foster their economic development," insisting that these aspirations should be met in accordance with the provisions of the NPT and that this right be exercised in full cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
US Ambassador Susan Rice told the Assembly that her Government's commitment to the NPT is a "cornerstone of our security strategy".
"We look forward to the NPT Review Conference next month, when the United States and the other NPT signatories will work to reverse the spread of nuclear weapons and to build momentum for their eventual elimination.
"All nations must recognize that the nonproliferation regime is undermined if violators are allowed to act with impunity," she said in a veiled reference to Iran.
While success of the NPT Review Conference is not assured, she added, the US will work tirelessly to ensure that the NPT is strengthened.
"My delegation pledges to be a constructive, flexible, and consensus-building voice during the Review Conference to make sure that this unique opportunity is not lost. But we cannot do it alone. We encourage all delegations to put aside dated arguments and build on today's momentum to make real progress on disarmament, nonproliferation, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy," she urged.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called on all member states in the Assembly "without exception, and first and foremost those that have nuclear arsenals, to join efforts with Russia and the US in this field and to contribute actively to the disarmament process".
"We are convinced that only through collective efforts we can succeed in achieving effective disarmament and a nuclear-free world," he said, calling on the UN to maintain and enhance its role as the central forum to discuss the issues of multilateral disarmament and to encourage practical steps by all member states aimed at achieving global security.
© KUNA (Kuwait News Agency) 2010
