NPT/CONF.2005/PC.I/6

Original: English
First session
New York, 8-19 April 2002

The NPT remains essential to international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, facilitate access to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and advance nuclear disarmament. The heightened awareness of the threat of nuclear terrorism following the terrible events of 11 September 2001 in New York and Washington has further underlined the Treaty's value.

As a non-nuclear weapon state, Australia's main contribution to nuclear disarmament is working for progress on the reinforcing steps essential to create an environment favourable to the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Australia believes that the Article VI goal of nuclear disarmament can only be achieved through a series of balanced, incremental and reinforcing steps - including nuclear warhead reductions, entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), further progress on nuclear weapon-free zones, and, in particular, a strong and effective nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Australia welcomes the announcement in December 2001 that the United States and Russia have completed reductions in their nuclear arsenals required under the START I treaty. Australia also welcomes the commitment by Presidents Bush and Putin to further reduce the size of deployed strategic nuclear arsenals to between 1700 and 2200 warheads within a decade. Australia encourages both sides to engage positively in discussions on the possible codification of the cuts and measures for verifying them.

Australia strongly supports the CTBT and is actively pursuing an ongoing program to secure further signatures and ratifications. Australia is continuing to press for a start to FMCT negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. Australia has also been active in promoting examination of issues that will arise in these negotiations, including a verification approach. Australia played a prominent role in negotiation of the Additional Protocol on strengthened IAEA safeguards and was the first country to ratify such a Protocol. Australia will continue its active pursuit of universal application of the Additional Protocol. Australia also considers that integrated IAEA safeguards are essential to the effective and cost effective implementation of strengthened safeguards; Australia is the only state, to date, where the IAEA has implemented them.

Australia consistently calls on states not party to the NPT - Cuba, India, Israel, and Pakistan - to accede to this fundamentally important instrument.

Australia will be working for a fair and balanced treatment of all NPT issues in the 2005 review cycle. Australia encourages all NPT parties to bring to the review process a spirit of constructive cooperation consistent with our shared interests in maintaining and strengthening this vital Treaty.