The 2000 NPT Review
Conference (RevCon)
14 April - 19 May 2000, New York
Statement
by
H.E. Mr. Anund Priyay Neewoor,
Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Mauritius
to the
2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
at the Plenary Session
May
1, 2000
Mr.
President,
I
would like to associate myself with other delegations in
congratulating you, on your election as President of the 2000 Review
Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons. I wish to assure you of the total support and
cooperation of my delegation to make this 2000 NPT Review Conference a
successful event. Mr President, there is no doubt that your able
leadership and diplomatic skill will guide this Conference to a
fruitful outcome.
At
the heart of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is the aspiration of
mankind across our planet to live in a world free from the threat of
annihilation by nuclear weapons. This is clearly demonstrated in the
fact that the NPT has rallied 187 parties committing themselves to
work together to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons with the
objective of achieving total nuclear disarmament and to co-operate in
the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We have just celebrated
the 30th year of the entry into force of the NPT with a sense of
satisfaction that the Treaty has largely been successful in preventing
the spread of nuclear weapons. Mauritius joined the NPT as soon as it
was ready for signature and remains firmly committed to all its
provisions.
Mr. President,
The
objectives of the NPT are two-fold and both are inextricably
inter-linked. First, the target has been to prevent the spread of
nuclear weapons through a comprehensive nonproliferation regime.
This has required the non-nuclear states parties to the Treaty to
commit themselves never to embark on production of nuclear weapons.
The other objective has been to bring about the total elimination of
all existing nuclear weapons. This second objective is the crucial
element of the NPT since otherwise there can be no rationale for the
non-nuclear states to give up their nuclear option forever. In our
view, the most important issue before this Review Conference is the
largely non-fulfillment by the nuclear states of their part of the
bargain under the NPT and to take appropriate decisions for the
enforcement of nuclear disarmament.
It
is not just regrettable but most alarming that we embark on a new
millennium with a huge deployment of 36,000 nuclear war-heads on our
planet. This shows how little the nuclear powers have done to advance
the cause of nuclear disarmament. On the other hand, there are efforts
today to qualitatively enhance existing nuclear capabilities using new
technologies and to weaponize the outer space. At stake in all this is
the very credibility of the non-proliferation regime.
Mr.
President,
We
all know from the past that every step that is taken somewhere to up-grade
weaponry, nuclear or non-nuclear, is taken a challenge by others to
develop matching if not more advanced systems. It may not happen
immediately in every case but over time it always happens. The
doctrine of nuclear deterrence has resulted in greater proliferation
of nuclear weapons and up-gradation of nuclear capability by one
nation is bound similarly to escalate into a new nuclear arms race.
Hence, Mauritius strongly believes that there is no alternative to
total nuclear disarmament which must be achieved within an established
timeframe.
Mr.
President,
The
end of the Cold War has presented opportunities for serious dialogue
among the nuclear powers for reduction of their nuclear arsenals. We
recognize that small steps were taken in this
regard between Be United States and the Russian Federation in 1997
and also unilateral pledges have been made by the other nuclear powers
to reduce their nuclear arsenals. In particular, we welcome the recent
ratification of START II by Russia and also its decision to ratify
CTBT. Mauritius is hopeful that the two major nuclear powers, the US
and Russia will seize the opportunity now together with the other
nuclear states to take the bold measures necessary for the realization
of START III and to agree on a time-frame for the total
denuclearization of our universe. The importance of establishing a
time-frame in this regard cannot be overemphasized. Mauritius was
disappointed that a time-frame for total elimination of nuclear
weapons was not incorporated in the CTBT and for this reason above all
we are not a signatory still.
Mr.
President,
The
1995 NPT Review Conference envisioned not only the conclusion of CTBT
by 1996 but inter-alia also the following:
a. a fissile material
cut-off treaty
b.
establishment
of new nuclear free-zones
c.
determined
pursuit by nuclear weapons states of systematic and progressive
efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally with ultimate goal of
eliminating these weapons.
Unfortunately,
five years later today we see no movement towards conclusion of a
fissile material cut-off treaty and nuclear disarmament remains
stalled. On the other hand, where non-nuclear states are concerned,
two important nuclear-free zones, namely the Pelindaba and the Bangkok
Treaties have been concluded since 1995. Mauritius is among the first
to have ratified the Pelindaba Treaty and calls upon the states which
have not done so yet to take steps for their early ratification to
ensure that this important Treaty covering Africa enters into force as
soon as possible. We urge the countries of the Middle East, Israel in
particular, to resolutely take the necessary steps for the realization
of a nuclear free zone covering the Middle East region.
Mr.
President,
Mauritius
deplores the protracted reluctance of the nuclear powers to fulfil
their obligations under Article IV of the NPT, which provide for
unimpeded and nondiscriminatory transfer of nuclear materials and
technology for peaceful purposes to developing countries under the
IAEA full-scope safeguards. This being the only tangible benefit that
the developing countries expect out of NPT, the nuclear states have
the responsibility to ensure the implementation of Article IV and to
that effect take the appropriate measures together with IAEA.
An area of increasing
concern to developing countries is the transportation of nuclear
wastes across the seas. Since the possibilities of vessels carrying
nuclear waste running into accidents cannot be discounted, the lives
of millions of people in countries washed by the waters through which
the vessels travel as well the marine resources on which they depend
so much are put in peril each time there is a movement of the
hazardous materials. The situation is further aggravated by the
absence of a proper compensation regime. Mauritius is of the view that
this important issue must be fully addressed at this NPT Review
Conference.
Mr.
President,
The
stationing of nuclear weapons be it on land, sea or space present a
serious danger to populations around. Therefore, Mauritius believes in
the establishment of a Registry under the IAEA where records can be
kept of all nuclear weapons wherever these are stationed. The Registry
should be accessible under strict conditions to sovereign governments
which have the responsibility to ensure the safety and security of
their peoples.
Finally,
Mr. President, Mauritius strongly supports the early convening of an
international conference on nuclear disarmament. We must recognize the
fact that today there are nuclear states outside the purview of the
NPT and CTBT and that words of condemnation of their nuclear status or
invitations to them to voluntarily become parties to these regimes
will not in themselves resolve the issue. There is absolute need now
to enlarge the scope of discussion of nuclear issues beyond the
existing parameters of NPT and only an international Conference can
address all the issues in a new global perspective. An international
conference on disarmament must also seriously address the question of
the growing threat of nuclear terrorism.
Thank
you Mr. President.
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