17 April 1997

CHAIRMAN'S PAPER

  1. The first session of the Preparatory Committee began the process of reviewing the operation of the Treaty in accordance with article VIII.3, taking into account the decisions and the resolution adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference.
  2. In the course of this process, the specific proposals listed in paragraph 4 below were put forward by delegations as a basis for recommendations to be made by the Preparatory Committee to the Review Conference to be held in 2000.
  3. At this stage, there was general agreement, subject to review and updating at subsequent sessions of the Preparatory Committee, and pending final agreement on all draft recommendations at the last session, on the following points. Reaffirmation of commitment to the preamble and the articles of the Treaty, Reaffirmation of commitment to efforts designed to promote the full realization and effective implementation of the provisions of the Treaty, as well as reaffirmation of the decisions on Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament and on Strengthening the Review Process for the Treaty as well as the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference:
    1. Universality

      Urgency and importance of achieving the universality of the Treaty; welcome for the eight new accessions to the Treaty since 1995, bringing the number of States parties to 186; urgency for all States not yet party to the Treaty to accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities.

    2. Main Committee I issues

      Non-proliferation

      Reaffirmation that every effort should be made to implement the Treaty in all its aspects to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices, without hampering the peaceful uses of nuclear energy by States parties to the Treaty. Nuclear disarmament

      The importance of all States to make every effort to promote the earliest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, in accordance with article XIV of that Treaty. Reaffirmation of the need for immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations on a non-discriminatory and universally applicable convention banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, in accordance with the statement of the Special Coordinator of the Conference on Disarmament and the mandate contained therein.

      Recognition of the progress in nuclear weapons reductions by the nuclear- weapon States, including those made unilaterally or bilaterally under the START process as steps towards nuclear disarmament; reaffirmation of the commitment by the nuclear-weapon States to the determined pursuit of systematic and progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally, with the ultimate goal of eliminating those weapons and of the commitment by all States to the achievement of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.

      Nuclear-weapon-free zones

      Welcome for the steps taken to conclude further Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaties since 1995 and reaffirmation of the conviction that the establishment of internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free zones freely arrived at among the States concerned, enhances global and regional peace and security. Recognition of the importance attached by signatories and States parties to the Treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Pelindaba and Bangkok to establishing a mechanism for cooperation among their respective Treaty agencies

      Security assurances Reaffirmation of the view that further steps, which could take the form of an international legally binding instrument, should be considered to assure non-nuclear-weapon States party to the Treaty against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

    3. Main Committee II issues

      Safeguards

      Welcome for the conclusion of negotiations on the IAEA 93+2 programme to strengthen the effectiveness and improve the efficiency of the IAEA's safeguards system and expectation that the IAEA will endorse that outcome at its special session in May; reaffirmation that the IAEA is the competent authority responsible for verifying and assuring, in accordance with the statute of the Agency and the Agency's safeguards system, compliance with its safeguards agreements.

    4. Main Committee III issues

      Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

      Reaffirmation of commitment to continue to take further steps for the full realization of the relevant provisions of the Treaty, taking into account the undertakings in the Principles and Objectives on peaceful use of nuclear energy.

      Reaffirmation that attacks or threats of attack on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes jeopardize nuclear safety and raise serious concerns regarding the application of international law on the use of force in such cases, which could warrant appropriate action in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.


      [Included during the final open session on 18 April 1997. Placement in final document is unknown.]

      18 April 1997


      Additional text for the Chairman's paper

      Within the existing agenda and in accordance with the methods of work adopted at the first session, the Committee also recommended that time should be allocated at the second session for the discussion on and the consideration of any proposals on the following subject areas, without prejudice to the importance of other issues:

      • security assurances for the parties to the NPT
      • the resolution on the Middle East
      • the provision on paragraph 46 of the Principles and Objectives on a non-discriminatory and universally applicable convention banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices



If you have any comments or questions about the material or would like to order a copy of any of these publications, please contact us by phone (+1-202-785-1266), fax (+1-202-387-6298), or email us.