The 2000 NPT Review
Conference (RevCon)
14 April - 19 May 2000, New York
STATEMENT
BY
AMBASSADOR ALOUNKEO KlTTIKHOUN,
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LAO PDR
TO THE UNITED NATIONS, HEAD OF DELEGATION
OF THE LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
IN
THE GENERAL DEBATE
OF THE 2000 REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
TO THE TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
NEW
YORK, 2 MAY 2000
Mr. President,
Allow
me to begin by congratulating you on behalf of the delegation of the
Lao People's Democratic Republic on your election to the presidency of
the present 2000 Review Conference of the States Parties to the Treaty
on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT). We are confident
that with your rich diplomatic skills and broad experience in
international relations. you will guide the work of this important
conference to a successful conclusion. In the discharge of your
duties, my delegation assures you of its full support and cooperation.
Mr. President,
In
1995 the international community had indefinitely extended the NPT and
strongly reaffirmed its crucial role in the promotion of nuclear
disarmament, the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation as well
as the enhancement of international cooperation in the peaceful uses
of nuclear energy. In other words, the non-nuclear weapon States again
agreed not to develop nor acquire nuclear weapons and the nuclear
weapons States also agreed to negotiate in good faith to achieve
nuclear disarmament. Five years have elapsed, the implementation of
these agreements is much left to be desired. As a matter of fact,
existing nuclear weapons continue to pose else greatest danger to the
survival of the civilization of mankind. To our deep regret, nuclear
weapons have been modernized, some nuclear weapons States moreover
have set out new rationale for the use of these inhuman weapons and
the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty has not yet entered into force etc.
The situation in which we are, is not bright, the world community can
not live up to its commitment made 30 years ago to nuclear
disarmament. In the light of the above and given that nuclear weapons
would not enhance international security, efforts should be made
seriously and honestly by all states concerned particularly the
nuclear weapon States which have the legal obligations to fulfil under
Article VI of the Treaty namely to pursue in good faith arid bring to
a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its
aspects.
Mr. President,
The performance of
the NPT over the past years had not yielded expected results. The
negotiations on banning the production of fissile material for nuclear
weapons and other explosive devices have yet to begin.
It is regrettable that very little progress on this issue has
been achieved. In this regard, we hope that the Conference on
Disarmament would early conclude the negotiations for a non-discriminatory
and universally applicable treaty banning the production of fissile
materials. In considering this issue, we stress the need to take into
account that the nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament
measures should be addressed in parallel.
Mr. President,
Learning
lessons and experiences from the past about nuclear weapons danger,
today as we are entering the new 21st century, the international
community should make every effort to ensure that mankind can live
without the threat of nuclear weapons. Indeed, my delegations hopes
that this conference, at its current session would lay the groundwork
for State Parties to the Treaty to agree to negotiate and conclude a
legal instrument to assure the non-nuclear weapon States against the
use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. In this context, we would
like to emphasize that the issue of concluding a legal binding
instrument on security assurances to non-nuclear weapons States
deserves the utmost attention of the world community and should be
strongly pursued.
Mr. President,
The
Lao PDR welcomes the increasing membership of the State Parties to the
NPT since it has entered into force in 1970. Such a growing number and
the fact that 187 States are now parties to this Treaty, testifies to
its global appeal for both nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear
disarmament. In this regard, we express the belief that the number of
the State Parties to the NPT will further increase.
The
Lao PDR supports the strong aspirations of the peoples in many parts
of the world in their efforts toward the creation of Nuclear Weapon
Free Zones in their respective regions such as in South East Asia,
Latin America and Caribbean, Africa, South, Pacific etc. The creation
of those zones would provide those people in their regions to be free
from the nuclear threat. In this context, we welcome the adoption of
the principles and guidelines by the UN Disarmament Commission last
year on the establishment of nuclear weapon free zones based on
arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regions
concerned as well as the adoption by the Mongolian Parliament of the
legislation on Mongolia's nuclear weapon free status.
Mr. President,
The
requirement for the use of nuclear material, equipment and technology
for promoting economic development continues to be an issue of
importance to the third world. Those technology and equipment have
largely contributed to science research for economic growth. In this
regard, we would like to express our concern that those material,
equipment anti technology are being restricted to developing
countries. In our opinion, this practice is inconsistent with the
prevailing international atmosphere of cooperation in the field of
peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Mr. President,
In
conclusion, my delegation believes that this conference will provide
an excellent opportunity for all State Parties to evaluate and
consider adopting new measures to ensure that the provisions of the
NPT and the decisions adopted in 1995 are fully implemented. For its
part, the Lao PDR will continue to cooperate fully with other State
parties towards the achievement of the ultimate goal of the Treaty:
the building o f a world free from nuclear weapons.
I thank you.
Back to Official
Documents and Statements
|