The 2000 NPT Review
Conference (RevCon)
14 April - 19 May 2000, New York
STATEMENT
BY
AMBASSADOR J. ENKHSAIKHAN
HEAD OF THE DELEGATION OF MONGOLIA
AT THE SIXTH REVIEW CONFERENCE OF
THE TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION
OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS (NPT)
New
York, 26 April 2000
Mr.
President,
It
gives me a pleasure, on behalf of the Government of Mongolia, to join
the previous speakers in extending the warmest congratulations to you
on the assumption of the Presidency of the Review Conference and to
pledge our delegation's full support and cooperation in the discharge
of your important duties. My delegation's congratulations also go to
other members of the Bureau.
Mr.
President,
The
very philosophy of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation is to curb
nuclear weapons proliferation with the ultimate goal of securing
complete nuclear disarmament. Though the Treaty was signed in 1968 and
entered into force in 1970, the world has not been freed of this most
dangerous type of weapon of mass destruction. Not only vertical
proliferation has not been checked, but also today the threat of
horizontal proliferation is real. The world is still heavily loaded
with nuclear weapons, as has been pointed out by the Secretary-General
in his statement addressed to the Conference. Furthermore, the
international community is witnessing not only reaffirmation of
existing but also emergence of new nuclear deterrence doctrines and
strategies that do not exclude the possibility of the use of nuclear
weapons under certain circumstances. Such approaches run counter to
the letter and the spirit of the Treaty as well as to the genuine
aspiration of the international community in general.
In
the past two days in this Hall almost every delegation has been
rightly referring to the additional challenges to the Treaty that
emerged since the 1995 NPT Review Conference, including the nuclear
tests in South Asia, delay of the entry into force of the CTBT,
threats to the ABM Treaty that could eventually result in a renewed
nuclear arms race, stalemate on the FMCT, etc.
Notwithstanding
the above, my delegation fully subscribes to your view on the need to
"avoid yielding to pessimism" which would only lead to
stalemate. These days all of us are witnessing the display of
political win and unequivocal determination of the States parties to
NPT to fully implement its provisions thereby to strengthen
non-proliferation and promote nuclear disarmament. Let us work in the
coming weeks on the basis of this will and in the spirit and letter of
NPT.
Mongolia
duly appreciates the positive trends that have emerged in the field of
nuclear disarmament as a result of unilateral, bilateral and
multilateral disarmament efforts by the States parties to NPT. These
positive trends include reduction of non-strategic nuclear arsenals by
the two nuclear weapon States that possess the largest stockpiles of
such weapons, signing by them of bilateral nuclear arms limitation and
reduction agreements as well as their agreement in principle to make
further reductions. The positive developments also include the 1996
ICJ Advisory opinion on the illegality of the threat or use of nuclear
weapons, the adoption and signing of the CTBT by the overwhelming
majority of the international community and its ratification by 55
States, including Mongolia and the 1995 agreement by the international
community to indefinitely extend the Treaty and strengthen thus the
non-proliferation regime and the review process.
We
also welcome as a promising omen the recent ratification by the
Russian Duma of the CTBT and START II treaties. Mongolia also joins
other States in congratulating Andorra, Angola, Brazil, Comoros,
Chile, Djibouti, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu that have
acceded to the NPT since the last Review Conference, contributing thus
to its universality.
Mr.
President,
Mongolia
attaches great importance to the historic 1995 NPT Review and
Extension Conference decisions and the associated resolution that
established substantive guidelines and indicative targets designed to
promote greater accountability regarding the full implementation of
the Treaty. It is, therefore, our belief that this Conference should
further strengthen those decisions.
The
1995 Decision 2 on "Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation
and Disarmament" set out seven key areas and established a set of
parameters for the evaluation of the implementation and operation of
the Treaty. These are: non-proliferation, nuclear disarmament,
security assurances, nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZ), universality,
safeguards and peaceful uses of atomic energy.
Mongolia's
general approach to these issues are reflected in the documents of the
Non-Aligned countries, including in the Final Document of the recent
Ministerial Conference held in Cartagena, Colombia. Nevertheless, I
would like to briefly touch upon those which seem to us to be
essential for attaining the objectives of the Treaty.
First.
Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. These two ultimate goals, the
cornerstone of Treaty obligations, must be strictly implemented by the
States parties to the NPT in full compliance with its Articles I, II
and Vl.
In this
context, while welcoming the Russian Federation's decision to ratify
the CTBT and START II, we urge the United States to respond by
ratifying the CTBT. With regard to START II, we call upon Russia and
the United States to start considering to fully implement it and to
embark upon negotiations on START III as a next step to further cut
the nuclear arsenal. At that stage the other three
nuclear‑weapon States should join them to negotiate gradual
reduction and ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons. We also
believe that it is vitally important to secure the earliest entry into
force of the CTBT and to revitalize the FMCT negotiations. It is our
strong belief that these two treaties are the heart of nuclear
disarmament and non-proliferation.
Second.
Security assurances. There is a strong need for credible security
assurances to be provided to the non-nuclear weapon States that have
to be provided in a form of a legally binding international
instrument. These assurances would be instrumental for strengthening
and implementing the provisions of
the Treaty. Therefore, like others, we urge the Conference on
Disarmament to redouble its efforts in that regard.
Third.
Universality.
The NPT, with no time limit, is a permanent tenet of international
law. Therefore, to be effective, it must be universal. My delegation
fully shares the view that no country should remain outside the
Treaty. Therefore we urge India, Pakistan, Israel and Cuba to join the
Treaty as soon as possible.
Fourth.
Safeguards.
Like others, Mongolia strongly advocates and supports the strengthened
Safeguards system of the international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). in
this context, we express our support for the Additional Protocol which
is designed to improve and strengthen lAEA's inspections and to extend
its access rights. Mongolia is working with the IAEA to conclude an
additional protocol to its safeguards
agreement. A group of Mongolian experts is to visit the IAEA
Headquarters soon to develop further our cooperation.
My
Government is also working to conclude with the Preparatory Commission
of the CTBTO an agreement on formalizing Mongolia's participation in
the international Monitoring System.
Fifth.
Nuclear-weapon-free
zones (NWFZ). Mongolia attaches great importance to the question of
nuclear-weapon-free zones, which are rightly considered as an
important and valuable component to non-proliferation. It is in this
context that my country welcomes the adoption by the UNDC of
principles and guidelines on the establishment of NWFZs, which would,
in our view, further consolidate the existing zones and facilitate the
establishment of new ones.
Mr.
President,
Mongolia
participated in the 1995 NPT Review Conference having declared in 1992
its territory a non-nuclear zone, thus going beyond non-proliferation.
It has unequivocally declared that it would not allow stationing of
nuclear weapons or parts thereof on its territory at any time.
Today,
we are participating in this Conference with internationally supported
nuclear-weapon-free status, as reflected in UN General Assembly
resolution 53/77D entitled "Mongolia's international security and
nuclear-weapon-free status", adopted in December, 1998. Though
Mongolia's ease is considered as a unique one, nevertheless we believe
that it demonstrates that non-proliferation can be strengthened if
unilateral action of a State is supported by the immediate neighbors
and the international community, and is properly institutionalized.
To
clearly define and institutionalize the status, our Parliament last
February has adopted a special legislation on Mongolia's
nuclear-weapon-free status, institutionalizing it at the national
level. We believe that though modest, it is a practical contribution
to international efforts to promote and strengthen the objectives of
nuclear non-proliferation. The adoption of the national legislation
has been welcomed and supported by the Secretary-General as well as by
the Non-Aligned Movement at its recent ministerial meeting in
Cartagena, Columbia.
Mr.
President,
It
has been recognized that Mongolia has nuclear-weapon-free status, i.e.
a status of a single and vulnerable State, would be more credible and
effective if its broader security concerns are properly addressed.
Together with some United Nations bodies, Mongolia is exploring ways
to address some broader issues.
The
nuclear-weapon States have played an important role in negotiating and
the adoption of UNGA resolution mentioned above. We believe and expect
that the PS would continue playing a positive role in
institutionalizing our status internationally, bearing in mind
Mongolia's unique case. Clearly defined and internationally recognized
status would be Mongolia's practical contribution to promoting the
noble goal of strengthening the non-proliferation regime.
Mr.
President,
Finally,
allow me to express the hope that the Conference will be able to agree
on realistic and important measures and to assure you once again of my
delegation's full cooperation in your efforts to bring the work of the
Conference to a successful conclusion.
Thank
you, Mr. President.
Back to Official
Documents and Statements
|