Wednesday, May 12,1999

Mr. Chairman,

The NPT's continued vitality and integrity is built upon the parallel pursuit of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. Nuclear arms reductions, unilateral and/or negotiated, not only enhance global security but are fundamental to fulfilling the commitment made in Article VI. Compliance by non-nuclear-weapon States with the NPT's nonproliferation norm is also fundamental. Neither commitment is less crucial. However, while the number of non-nuclear-weapon States party to the NPT has increased from 142 to 182 adherents since 1990, progress over the same period of time by the nuclear-weapon States towards nuclear disarmament slowed and has now stalled.

The nuclear weapons tests carried out in May 1998 in South Asia were another stark reminder of the continuing risks to international peace and security posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Even while 187 states now adhere to the NPT, we must not relent in our pursuit of universal adherence to the Treaty. In order to fulfil this objective, we have long recognized the equally vital work required to strengthen the nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation regime, including through agreement and implementation of additional mechanisms and measures. This strengthening was originally envisaged in the preamble and in Article VI of the NPT. It was also reaffirmed and elaborated in the Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament adopted in 1995.

The CTBT is one such mechanism that was concluded in 1996. It's entry into force and effective implementation remains a Canadian priority. We welcome the progress made by the CTBT Provisional Technical Secretariat in implementing various provision of the Treaty. Canada also supports the convening this autumn, of a conference of states that have ratified the CTBT and the full and effective implementation of Article XIV, paragraph 2 of the Treaty. It is Canada's view that a successful Article XIV.2 conference will reinforce the continued viability of the CT13T.

Canada also welcomes the decision and associated Presidential Statement of the Conference on Disarmament of August 12, 1998, establishing an ad hoc committee to negotiate, on the basis of the report of its Special Coordinator (CD/ 1299) and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices. It would be highly appropriate for this Preparatory Committee to urge the CD to act quickly to reestablish this ad hoc committee as soon as possible during its 1999 session with a view to facilitating early conclusion of these negotiations.

Mr. Chairman,

Canada's views regarding Article VI will be dealt with in more detail in this afternoon's session devoted to discussion on that topic. I would like to use this opportunity to focus on the non-proliferation norm in the context of international peace and security.

As introduced in our general statement on May 10", Canada has proposed that the 2000 Review Conference should again call upon all States not yet party to the Treaty to accede to the NPT at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities.

An abiding principle upon which the NPT is founded is that the proliferation of nuclear weapons seriously increases the danger of nuclear war. A new Principles and Objectives document for 2000 should reaffirm that the Treaty continues to make a vital contribution to nuclear non-proliferation and that every effort should be made to implement the Treaty in all its aspects, without hampering the peaceful uses of nuclear energy by States party to the Treaty.

The unanimous adoption in June 1998 of UN Security Council Resolution 1172 reaffirmed the crucial importance of both the NPT and the CTBT for global efforts towards nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. The resolution recalled the Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament adopted in 1995 and affirmed the need to continue to move with determination towards the full realization and effective implementation of all the provisions of the NPT. The provisions set out in UNSCR 1172, as they relate to the NPT, are concrete actions that should be pursued by all States. They should be endorsed by the 2000 Review Conference.

Over 30 years ago, the international community entrenched the NPT as the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation norm, reflecting a determination to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Canada itself has pledged to join all efforts to halt and roll back nuclear proliferation wherever it occurs.

The NPT bargain - the fulfilment of obligations by states of Articles I and 11 and the further commitment to nuclear disarmament under Article VI - must be translated from words to deeds. Reductions by the nuclear-weapon States of their nuclear weapons inventories, both strategic and tactical, and devaluation of the political significance they ascribe to nuclear weapons will also be key to halting nuclear weapons proliferation as witnessed in South Asia, and discouraging it from happening elsewhere.

It is against this background - the fulfilment of both our nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament objectives - that Canada has proposed a number of elements for conclusion in a new Principles and Objectives document for 2000. We hope delegations will be prepared to support these proposals as we continue our discussions throughout the Review Process. In addition, recognizing the particular timeliness, urgency and relevance of these issues, Canada had also suggested in document PCIII/4 three paragraphs on the "substantive issues" of nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear tests and nuclear disarmament for possible inclusion in the final report of this session.