Statement by H.E. Dr. Makarim Wibisono

Head of Delegation of the Republic Indonesia

In the General Exchange of Views of

the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee

for the 2000 Review Conference of Parties to NPT

to Introduce a Working Paper submitted by

the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries Party to NPT

New York, 10 May 1999

Mr. Chairman

It is a distinct honor and privilege for the Indonesian delegation to introduce the Working Paper on behalf of the members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and other States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It contains various aspects pertaining to the operation and functioning of the Treaty that are deemed to be of paramount importance for this Preparatory Committee Meeting and for the NPT Review Conference in the year 2000, Towards this objective, it contains a series of recommendations for consideration by the participants with a view to the further strengthening of the Treaty.

The Paper consists of introductory paragraphs, followed by a Preamble and NAM's position on various Articles of the Treaty as well as on the question of security assurances and the Resolution on the Middle East.

The introductory paragraphs call for the recommendations which have been submitted and deliberated throughout the preparatory process to be forwarded to the Review Conference of 2000 for further refining, finalization and adoption. In the view of its members, such a consideration would contribute to a strengthened review process and to the full implementation of not only the provisions of the Treaty but also the decisions and resolution adopted in 1995.

Recalling their principled position taken at the Movement's Durban Summit, they express concern at the slow progress made towards nuclear disarmament which constitutes their primary disarmament objective. They further noted the complexities attendant upon the nuclear tests that were conducted in South Asia, which underlined the need to work even harder to achieve their disarmament objectives, including the elimination of nuclear weapons.

It is the position of the Movement that the question of implementing the 1995 decision to strengthen the review process is related to necessary amendments to the Rules of Procedure, in particular, Rule 34. Such an approach would provide the basis for ensuring a successful outcome of the forthcoming Review exercise.

The Preambular paragraphs of the Working Paper express the belief of its members that the NPT is a key instrument to halt both vertical and horizontal proliferation and their pledge to work in seeking a fair balance between the mutual obligations and responsibilities of the weapon and the non-weapon states. To ensure the effective implementation of the Treaty, and of decisions, resolutions and documents adopted at the Review Conference, the Movement calls for the establishment of an open-ended standing committee by the 2000 Review Conference that would work inter-sessionally to follow-up on recommendations concerning the implementation of the provisions of the Treaty.

Mr. Chairman,

The Working Paper calls for prevention of the further proliferation of nuclear weapons and for preserving the Treaty's vital contribution to peace and security. It also calls upon the nuclear-weapon states in cooperation among themselves and with the non-nuclear weapons, and with states not parties to the Treaty, to refrain from nuclear sharing for military purposes under any kind of security arrangements. And it calls for a total and complete denial of the availability of assistance in the nuclear field to states non-Parties without exception.

The Movement confirms the role of the IAEA, as the competent authority to verify compliance by states parties of their undertakings through its system of safeguards. It calls upon the nuclear-weapon states and states not parties to the Treaty to place their nuclear facilities under the full-scope safeguards of the IAEA. In the event of noncompliance with the safeguards agreements, States parties should direct such concerns to the Agency to investigate, draw conclusions and decide on necessary actions. The Paper extends its support for the principles that supply arrangements for the transfer of special fissile materials or equipment should require as a necessary pre-condition the acceptance of full-scope safeguards and that excess nuclear material either in military stockpiles or removed from nuclear weapons be subjected to IAEA safeguards. Considering the importance that members of the Movement attach to technical cooperation, safeguards and nuclear safety, the Paper calls for efforts to ensure adequate financial and human resources for IAEA to meet its responsibilities in these areas.

The Movement reaffirms the inalienable right of states parties to engage in research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and to unimpeded and non-discriminatory transfer of nuclear technology. It also calls for the removal of unilaterally enforced restrictive measures which prevent the development and application of nuclear science.

It is the view of the members of the Movement that proliferation concerns can best be addressed through multilaterally negotiated, universal, comprehensive and nondiscriminatory agreements. Arrangements to stem proliferation should be transparent and open to participation by all states and free from restrictions on access to material, equipment and technology for civilian purposes in order to ensure continued development by the developing countries. NAM reaffirms the responsibility of supplier states to promote the legitimate energy needs of the developing countries which should be allowed to participate in the transfer of nuclear equipment for peaceful purposes with a view to maximizing benefits and applying criteria for sustainable development.

The implementation of commitments in Article VII has been of great concern to the member states of NAM parties to the NPT. It is, therefore, noted with regret that despite the conclusion of limited agreements, the provisions of that Article and the ninth to twelfth preambular paragraphs of the Treaty have remained unfulfilled. As nuclear weapons pose the greatest danger to mankind and to the survival of civilization, it is essential to halt and reverse the nuclear arms race in order to avert the danger of war involving nuclear weapons. Hence, the goal is the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. In this regard, the states parties are called upon to fulfill with determination their obligations to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures for the cessation of the nuclear arms race and to nuclear disarmament.

On the related issue of a non-discriminatory, effectively verifiable and universally applicable fissile ban treaty, the Movement renews its call for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations, as an essential measure of nuclear disarmament as well as n on-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

In view of the complexities involved in dealing with nuclear and related issues, NAM calls for specific time to be allotted at the Preparatory Committee meetings in order to deliberate on practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts for the abolition of nuclear armaments. The Movement also recommends that the 2000 Review Conference establish a subsidiary body to its Main Committee I for this purpose.

As far as the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free-zones is concerned, the Movement has extended its support for their creation in areas where they do not exist. It has called for the promotion of common goals envisioned in the Treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Pelindaba and Bangkok and for exploring ways and means of cooperation among them including consolidation of the status of southern hemisphere and adjacent areas as nuclear-weapon-free-zones.

On the question of security assurances, the Movement calls upon state parties to negotiate in the Prep.Com meetings for a legal instrument to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons for adoption by the 2000 Review Conference.

It is the position of the Movement that the resolution on the Middle East constituted an integral part of the package of the 1995 outcome comprising of three decisions and this resolution. While the depositary states bear a special responsibility as co-sponsors of this resolution, the Movement wishes to point out that all states in the region, with the exception of Israel, are parties to the NPT. It stresses the urgent need for Israel to accede to the Treaty without further delay and to place all its nuclear facilities under the full-scope safeguards of the IAEA. In view of the importance of this question and its ramifications for peace and stability, NAM recommends that the 2000 Review Conference establish a subsidiary body to its Main Committee II to consider and recommend proposals to implement the 1995 resolution.

It is the hope of the Non-Aligned Countries that states parties will give serious consideration to these proposals and recommendations whose acceptance and implementation will make a significant contribution to our concerted and collective endeavors to achieve the objectives contained in the Treaty.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.