The 2000 NPT Review Conference (RevCon)
14 April - 19 May 2000, New York

   
NPT/CONF.2000/MC.II/WP.16

Nuclear-weapon-free zones 

Working paper submitted by Belarus

8 May 2000

This document is a reflection of the national position of the Republic of Belarus. It is not Belarus' intention to reopen debate on its initiative to establish a nuclear-weapon-free space in Central and Eastern Europe but rather to demonstrate our vision of advancing to a nuclear-weapon-free world. 

Belarus is convinced that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free space in Central and Eastern Europe would make an important contribution to the strengthening of international nuclear non-proliferation regime and to global efforts aimed at achieving the ultimate objective of eliminating nuclear weapons and, more broadly speaking, to general and complete nuclear disarmament under strict and effective international control. 

Belarus totally supports the objectives, purposes and principles of the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the states of the region concerned. Belarus will be. guided in its activities by the recommendations contained in the 199[-] UNDC document “Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the states of the region concerned", which was adopted by consensus. Belarus' position fully corresponds to the principles of this important document and could be described as following: 

-         Belarus is a regional state and therefore has the right to propose the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free space in its region (para 42 of the above document).

-         This initiative should be pursued by all the states of that region (para 21).

-         Belarus hopes that broad consultations on the objective of the establishment of a regional nuclear-weapon-free space could be arranged among the states of the region (para 43).

-         Belarus fully supports the principle that all the states of the region concerned should participate in the negotiations on and the establishment of such a zone on the basis of the arrangements freely arrived at among the states of the region concerned (para 23). 

Belarus believes that there exist the necessary prerequisites which could facilitate the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free space in Central and Eastern Europe including the de facto absence of nuclear weapons from the region, strict compliance by all the states of the region with the NPT obligations, strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation regime in the region by concluding Additional Protocols with the IAEA and others. 

Belarus does not intend to suggest in this document specific means and ways of creating such a space because it is convinced of the necessity to achieve at first the consensus on the objective of a nuclear-weapon-free space in Central and Eastern Europe among the states of the region concerned in broad consultations. 

Belarus hopes that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free space in Central and Eastern Europe will significantly contribute to the regional and global peace and security and invites the states of the region, nuclear-weapon states and other interested parties to open a broad dialogue on its initiative which could be considered as a starting point in promoting a nuclear-weapon-free and safe world.

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