The 1998 NPT PrepCom
27 April - 8 May, Geneva

• Summary
• BASIC Publications
• Official Documents
• Links to other Resources
• Media Coverage on the PrepCom

Brief Summary

The second PrepCom, despite several valuable proposals, can only be regarded as a setback for the NPT review process. Two weeks of often frustrating discussion and debate led to an extremely disappointing outcome. The final documents agreed did not include any discussion of substantive issues. Please see BASIC's publications below for more information.

The first PrepCom took place in April 1997 at the United Nations in New York. That meeting set the precedent for the current PrepCom, outlined a method of operation, and suggested several issues on which delegations will focus over the two-week meeting.

The 1999 PrepCom will take place in New York. Final dates for the PrepCom were agreed the week of 8 March, when states parties settled on 10-21 May.

These meetings are the first under the new review process that was agreed at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference. The new review process, together with agreement on the Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, were essential to achieving the predominant Western goal of making the Treaty permanent.

BASIC Publications

Listed below are BASIC and NETS publications on the PrepCom.

• Criticism of NATO Nuclear Policy Reaches US Senate
  Opposition to Nuclear Sharing Leads to Proposed Senate Amendment on NATO Expansion, BASIC Note, May 1998

• Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Setback
  BASIC Press Release, 10 May 1998

• PENN Working Paper for the 1998 PrepCom based on government proposals put forth at the session, released on 5 May 1998

• Non-Aligned Movement Demands an End to NATO Nuclear Sharing
  PENN Press Release, 28 April 1998

• "Stakes Rise in Non-Proliferation Treaty Maneuvers", by Stephen W. Young, in BASIC Reports #63, 21 April 1998

• Letter to NPT member states on the PrepCom 8 April 1998

• Global Conference on Nuclear Proliferation Set to Start Secret Sessions Press advisory, 24 March 1998

• Netherlands-Mandela's South Africa Set for Confrontation on Nuclear Policy Press release, 17 March 1998

• Belgium’s Nuclear Bomber Force: Targeting Iraq?
  Press release, 10 February 1998

Links to Other Resources

During the 1998 meeting, other organizations will be placing documents, analysis, and related on the PrepCom. Key links include:

The Acronym Institute
Almost daily analysis during the PrepCom, as well as a wealth of historical information and documentation on the NPT.

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Additional resources on the PrepCom and the international contact for Abolition 2000, the network of over 1000 NGOs.

Media coverage on the PrepCom

Non-Aligned Object to Nuclear Sharing Arrangements
by Gustavo Capdevila, InterPress Service, 28 April 1998

This Defense News article highlights the possibilities for conflict between NATO expansion and the NPT, an issue that will probably be discussed at the 1998 PrepCom.

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