The 2000 NPT Review
Conference (RevCon)
14 April - 19 May 2000, New York
STATEMENT
BY
H.E.
U WIN BRA
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE
2000
REVIEW CONFERENCE
OF THE PARTIES TO THE TREATY
ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS (NPT)
NEW
YORK, 26 APRIL 2000
Mr.
President,
First
of all I would like to congratulate you on your election as President
of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons. My delegation is convinced that under your able
leadership, we can look forward to achieving some positive outcome
from our deliberations, despite the daunting task ahead of you. We
have been greatly inspired by your comprehensive and inspiring
inaugural statement. My delegation would also like to congratulate the
Members of the Bureau
The
2000 Review Conference, meeting at the commencement of the new
millennium, is a milestone in the history of nuclear non-proliferation
and nuclear disarmament. It has provided us with the opportunity to
evaluate the past efforts since the indefinite extension of NPT in
1995 and to identity new areas where we can achieve progress. It is
also an important occasion for us to renew our collective commitment
made at the 1995 review conference and to further strengthen the
review process for the Treaty.
Mr.
President,
Myanmar
is strongly in favour of nuclear disarmament and is fully committed to
its realization. As such my delegation hopes to see some progress
towards nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation at this
review conference.
Since
the indefinite extension of the NPT in 1995, except for the conclusion
of the CTBT, the world has yet to witness tangible achievements
regarding the implementation of the principles and objectives set
forth in the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Despite some progress among the
nuclear-weapon States on the unilateral and bilateral levels to reduce
their nuclear armaments, the world is still menaced with the perils of
nuclear arsenals. Two of the threshold states have established their
de-facto nuclear weapon-state status by conducting nuclear tests
putting a serious setback to the non-proliferation regime. Despite the
fact that CTBT is enjoying growing international support two
nuclear-weapon States have yet to ratify the Treaty. At this juncture,
we need to build a stronger international consensus to discourage any
new development of nuclear weapons and to dismantle more of the
existing ones. My delegation believes that the nuclear-power States
should take the lead in setting this example through demonstration of
political will.
On
the brighter side of the disarmament spectrum, my delegation would
like to welcome the ratification of START II and CTBT by the Russian
Federation. These positive actions by the Russian government
constitute a step forward to the realization of disarmament goals. The
ratification of START II opens up new opportunities for the
commencement of negotiations on START III.
Mr.
President,
I
would now like to turn to some of the issues which my delegation
considers it to be important. At the third session of the Preparatory
Committee for the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty
on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, my delegation submitted
some proposals for consideration to be incorporated in the document on
principles and objectives and a programme of action (POPA) on nuclear
non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. I would here like to
reiterate some of these issues.
Mr.
President,
My
delegation is of the view that universal adherence to the NPT remains
to be an urgent priority. Accordingly, all States not yet party to the
Treaty should be called upon to accede to the Treaty at the earliest
possible date. In this regard, my delegation considers that effective
measures for nuclear disarmament will contribute towards the
realization of the goal of the universality of adherence to the
Treaty.
Since
the continuing existence of nuclear weapons poses a great danger to
mankind and the best and the only genuinely effective defence against
a nuclear catastrophe is the total elimination of these weapons, the
States Parties should reaffirm their firm commitment to the process of
total elimination of nuclear weapons. In this regard, the early
establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on nuclear disarmament in the
Conference on Disarmament is urgently called for.
My
delegation is of the view that for the full realization of the nuclear
disarmament, the early entry into force of the CTBT is an important
measure. It is also important to commence negotiations on the fissile
material cut-off treaty at the earliest possible date and to have it
concluded as soon as possible. Although my delegation welcomes the
decision to establish of the Ad Hoc Committee, it is regrettable to
learn that negotiations on FMCT have not yet started at the Conference
on Disarmament. My delegation considers that agreements should also be
reached on other crucial arms control measures for the reduction of
nuclear danger such as de-alerting and deactivating nuclear weapons
and a joint undertaking by the Nuclear Weapon States not to be the
first to use nuclear weapons.
Mr.
President,
The
total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only genuine guarantee for
non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear
weapons. We are, therefore, of the view that pending the achievement
of such a goal, a legally binding international instrument on a
security assurances regime which will ensure the security of
non-nuclear-weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear
weapons should be urgently concluded.
The
establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of
arrangements freely arrived at among the states of the region
concerned enhances global and regional peace and security. In this
respect, the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in their
respective regions by the Treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok
and Pelindaba have gone a long way in limiting the geographic
proliferation of nuclear weapons and in enhancing global and regional
peace and security. However, the cooperation of all the Nuclear Weapon
States and their respect and support for the respective protocols are
necessary for the maximum effectiveness of nuclear-weapon-free zones
and their respective protocols. My delegation would therefore like to
call upon the States Parties to express their desire to see an early
entry into force of the protocols which still remain to be ratified by
the Nuclear Weapon States through the resolution of the remaining
issues in a spirit of amity and cooperation in the shortest possible
time.
Mr.
President,
These
are in a nutshell some of the issues which my delegation submitted at
the Third Prepcom. My delegation looks forward to further discussing
them and also on other issues relating to nuclear non-proliferation
and nuclear disarmament which may arise during the course of our
deliberations. Before concluding, I would like to reaffirm Myanmar's
commitment to the NPT regime and to associate ourselves with the
statement made by Indonesia on behalf of NAM. My delegation would also
like to assure you of our fullest co-operation to make this conference
a success.
Thank
you.
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