PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE 2000 REVIEW CONFERENCE
OF THE PARTIES TO THE TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION
OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
FIRST SESSION
NEW YORK. 7 to 18 APRIL 1997
STATEMENT BY
H.E. AMBASSADOR JAAP RAMAKER
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
New York, 8 April 1997
Mr. Chairman.
1. I have the honour to take the floor on behalf of the
European Union, as well as on behalf of the Central
and Eastern European countries associated with the
European Union (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,
Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia) and the
Associated Country Cyprus. The EFTA countries
members of the European Economic Area (Iceland.
Liechtenstein and Norway) also align themselves
with this statement.
Mr. Chairman
2. From its inception in 1968 the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) has
truly been the cornerstone of the global
non-proliferation regime. In May 1995 the States
Parties to the Treaty took a momentous decision,
namely that " the Treaty shall continue in force
indefinitely". The European Union strongly believes
that that decision represented a watershed. With the
indefinite extension of the Treaty, the existing
global non-proliferation regime received a
permanent and stable underpinning. Thus the
extension decision taken in the spring of 1995 went
a long way in contributing to a better, a more
promising, international security environment.
3. The 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference
decided also to strengthen the review process for the
Treaty by adopting a specific decision to this effect.
It adopted a document on "Principles and
Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and
Disarmament" and a Resolution on the Middle East.
The European Union attaches great importance to
each of these documents.
4. We are at the beginning of the preparatory process
for the year 2000 NPT Review Conference. This is
the first time in the history of the Treaty that the
Preparatory Committee faces a dual task. As is
customary, it will have to prepare matters of
procedure for the Review Conference itself. In the
fulfillment of that task, the Committee will have to
be guided to a large extent by common sense.
5. In addition, however, the Preparatory Committee
will have to give substance to the decision on an
enhanced review process which has tasked the
Committee "to consider principles, objectives and
ways in order to promote the foil implementation of
the Treaty, as well as its universality, and to make
recommendations thereon to the Review
Conference". These include those identified in the
Decision on Principles and Objectives for nuclear
non proliferation and disarmament adopted on 11
May 1995. Thus, this Preparatory Committee will
itself create a precedent, being the first such
meeting tasked with addressing substance as well as
procedure. The European Union is fully committed
to help bringing this new task to a successful
conclusion so as to make sure that the strengthened
review process turns itself into a valuable new
instrument in the fight against the continued danger
of the spread of nuclear weapons.
Mr. Chairman,
6. As we are about to take the first steps on a path
largely unexplored, the European Union wishes to
place before the Preparatory Committee a number
of considerations guiding it during the preparatory
process.
7. First, it will be important to keep in mind the
unprecedented nature of the strengthened review
process. We should therefore approach this first
session with both flexibility and prudence, given the
need to avoid undue haste in shaping
recommendations to the Review Conference before
possible options have been adequately considered.
8. Second, to the extent that experience could guide us
also in the substantive aspects of the preparatory
process, we should make use of it. The traditional
Main Committee structure of Review Conference
es, dividing the substance into disarmament matters,
safeguards and peaceful uses of nuclear energy is a
case in point.
9. Third, from this flows naturally that the enhanced
review process should be balanced in its approach.
giving due attention to all aspects of the Treaty's
implementation.
10. Fourth, the preparatory phase of the enhanced
review process, in recommending to the Review
Conference. will have to take into account that the
Conference itself, apart from reviewing the
operation of the Treaty, will have to be
forward-looking. me preparatory process itself
therefore. while not overlooking the - recent - past,
will have to be forward-looking as well.
11. Fifth, also under the new arrangements the work of
the Preparatory Committee remains preparatory in
nature. The Preparatory Committee will recommend
to the Review Conference; the Review Conference
itself decides. In this process, the Preparatory
Committee will base itself on the Treaty. It will
implement the decision on Strengthening the
Review Process and be guided by the Principles and
Objectives adopted at the 1995 NPT Conference.
Mr. Chairman
12. Under the strengthened review process. the
Preparatory Committee should not only consider
principles, objectives and ways in order to promote
the full implementation of the Treaty, as well as
universality, but also make recommendations
thereon to the Review Conference. So the results of
our considerations, the Preparatory Committee's
recommendations, should be moulded in such a way
as to enable the Review Conference to draw the
necessary operational conclusions. The European
Union believes that the most efficient banner for the
Preparatory Committee's reporting of the results of
its deliberations to its successive sessions and to the
Review Conference would either be a brief
Chairman's summary or a brief Chairman's
introduction, covering a neutral mechanism to carry
forward proposals from one Preparatory Committee
session to the next. Such a document might
eventually evolve into the final recommendations of
the Preparatory Committee to the Review
Conference. It remains important however that
during the early Preparatory Committee meetings
we avoid protracted discussions over texts: a
Chairman's summary would not need to be a
consensus document.
13. In order to ensure as smooth as possible a transition
of activities in the run-up to the Review Conference,
the European Union considers it useful if the
out-going and incoming Chairmen of the various
sessions of the Preparatory Committee consult each
other in the intercessional periods.
14. While addressing substantive issues, one should not
forget one of the more traditional tasks of the
Preparatory Committee, the procedural preparations
for the 2000 Review Conference. The 1995
Conference concluded that for the Review
Conference the structure of three Main Committees
should continue. The Preparatory Committee is to
examine whether the establishment of subsidiary
bodies within the Main Committees, so as to
provide for a focused consideration of specific
issues relevant to the Treaty, can be recommended
for the Review Conference. In addressing this issue,
we should bear in mind the concerns of smaller
delegations and the need to avoid Undue expense.
The European Union believes that. in order to allow
ideas on this issue to develop during the various
sessions of the Preparatory Committee, a
recommendation on this question had best await 8
later session of the Preparatory Committee.
15. The European Union hopes that this session of the
Preparatory Committee will make a positive start
with work under the Strengthened review process of
the Non- Proliferation Treaty. To that end the
Preparatory Committee should not devote too much
time to its own procedural matters. The
decision-making at the Preparatory Committee
should continue to be based on consensus.
Mr. Chairman,
16. The above reflects some of the European Union's
ideas on how the Preparatory Committee to the
2000 NPT Review Conference should, under the
new arrangement of a strengthened review process,
conduct its business, in particular on the substantive
issues relating to the treaty's implementation. It is
important that this first session of the Preparatory
Committee starts discussing substance sooner rather
than later. In this respect the European Union
considers it relevant to present already now some
thoughts on the main aspects relating to the NPT's
implementation.
17. Since the 1995 Review and Extension Conference
significant progress has been achieved in relation to
nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Securing the indefinite extension of the Treaty with
its core non-proliferation commitments has created
the climate for continued nuclear disarmament.
18. The European Union welcomes the conclusion of
the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in
1996, within the timeframe we agreed upon in 1995.
The fact that the world now has an internationally
and effectively verifiable treaty banning any nuclear
weapon test explosion or any other nuclear
explosion for ever, is a major contribution to both
nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation The EU
calls on all States which have not yet done so to
Sign and ratify the CTBT at the earliest possible
date.
19. As far as the second item in the programme of
action on nuclear disarmament contained in the
Principles and Objectives is concerned, the
negotiation on a convention banning the production
of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other
nuclear explosive devices, the European Union
regrets that the Conference on Disarmament has not
been able to start work on this issue, to which the
EU attaches importance. All Member States of the
Union as well as the states aligning themselves to
this statement are fully prepared to start negotiations
on this issue right away. indeed there seems to be no
need for further delay: the basis for those
negotiations has been laid by the statement on the
subject of the then CD's Special Coordinator and the
mandate contained therein, as well as the
establishment in 1995 of an Ad Hoc Committee.
Those delegations which have long sought to have
this item inscribed on the CD agenda should now
show good faith in proceeding with the item.
20. The EU also attaches importance to the third and
final measure in the programme of action in the
Principles and Objectives. the determined pursuit by
the nuclear weapon states of systematic and
progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons
globally, with the ultimate goals of eliminating
those weapons, and by all States of general and
complete disarmament under strict and effective
international control. We are pleased to see progress
in this respect. The European Union welcomes both
the unilateral and bilateral measures taken since
1995, including the steps taken or announced by the
United Kingdom and France, and calls for further
progress towards global reductions. It is important
that all these measures be fully implemented. In this
respect the European Union urges the early
ratification of START 11 by the Russian
Federation. The EU welcomes the commitments
made by Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin at the
Helsinki Summit regarding further reductions in
nuclear arms and urges their early implementation.
21. Nuclear-weapon-free zones, on the basis of
arrangements freely arrived at among the States of
the region concerned, enhance global and regional
peace and security. The Union considers such zones
as important complementary instruments to the NPT
and welcomes advances made, which extend the
areas of the world covered by nuclear weapon free
zones.
Mr. Chairman.
22. Already before the 1995 Conference, intensive
efforts had been undertaken to reinforce the
non-proliferation regime. The IAEA's =93 + 2"
programme, aiming at strengthening the
effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the
Agency's safeguards system, has reached a decisive
phase. The European Union reaffirms its support for
these objectives and its full commitment to the "93
+ 2" programme. More particularly the Union
expresses the hope that the Protocol, providing the
necessary additional authority for the
implementation of Part II of the Agency's proposals
for a strengthened and effective safeguards system.
will be approved by the IAEA Board of Governors
at its special session on 15-16 May. The EU
welcomes the fact that the nuclear weapon States
will participate substantially in the programme. This
set of measures will significantly increase the
Agency's capacity to detect undeclared nuclear
activities. This would fully accord with the
Principles and Objectives adopted at the 1995 NPT
Conference. The EU calls on all States and other
parties to safeguards agreements to start early
negotiations with the IAEA, in order to conclude a
relevant additional protocol, with a view to
implementing the 93 + 2 programme as soon as
possible.
23 The European Union confirms the inalienable right
of all the parties to the Treaty to develop research,
production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes. without discrimination and in complete
conformity with Articles I and 11 of the Treaty.
Indeed, over the years the European Union and its
Member States have implemented substantial
international cooperation programmes in this field.
Also, Member States of the Union continued their
important contributions to the IAEA Technical
Assistance Fund. It must be clearly understood that
the right enshrined in Article IV of the NPT is To be
exercised in conformity with the non-proliferation
obligations sat out in Articles I and 11. In addition
to the NPT, export control measures are equally
valid instruments for preventing the proliferation of
nuclear weapons. Thus, far from being an obstacle
to the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy,
nuclear related export controls are the necessary
corollary of peaceful nuclear cooperation.
24. The European Union fully supports the Principles
and Objectives statement to the effect that
transparency in nuclear related export controls
should be promoted within the framework of
dialogue and cooperation among all interested
States party to the Treaty. The Union welcomes the
Nuclear Suppliers Group's activities to enhance
transparency in this area through dialogue and
cooperation with non-member countries of the
NSG.
Mr. Chairman,
25. Since the 1995 Conference. eight more states have
acceded to the NPT, making the Treaty
near-universal. The European Union welcomes this
development. Nearing universality by itself
strengthens the existing nuclear non-proliferation
regime. It illustrates the fact that slates are
conscious that the Treaty serves their interests.
Nevertheless, it remains a major problem that a few
nuclear capable states remain outside the Treaty's
orbit. It is for that reason that universality is the first
of the Principles and Objectives adopted at the 1995
Conference. The European Union continues to fully
support this priority objective embodied therein and
reiterates its call on all states that have not Yet done
so to accede to the NPT.
Mr. Chairman,
26. The 1995 decision to extend the NPT indefinitely
confirmed this Treaty as the most important
international framework for nuclear
non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. The
strengthened review process should be used as a
tool to ensure that over the years to come the Treaty
will continue to fulfill that role, by making a
success of this Preparatory Committee and the start
of the new, invigorated review process it signals.
Let us all contribute to this success.
Thank you. Mr. Chairman.