PRESS RELEASE

26 April 1995

NPT Plenary in Review

Campaign for the Non-Proliferation Treaty

The NPT Review and Extension Conference met in plenary from April 17 - 25. During this portion of the Conference, states declared their positions on extension, and outlined their concerns for the upcoming review. Following is the Campaign's survey of states' positions on extension.

In summary, 103 states support indefinite extension, 23 are against, 28 are "leaning yes," 12 "leaning no" and 11 remain undecided.

Indefinite Extension
Just two weeks ago, there were only 79 states publicly in favor of indefinite extension. During the plenary session, that number rose to 103. The simple majority, 90, was passed on Friday, April 21.

Many of these states, however, prefer near-consensus to a narrow majority, a factor which may influence the final vote. (The Campaign believes a broad majority is in the best interest of the Treaty.) Some states also proposed measures to strengthen the Treaty in order to widen support for indefinite extension.

South Africa proposed a set of "Principles for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament," to serve as guideposts at subsequent review conferences. These principles include recommitting to non-proliferation, improving access to peaceful nuclear technology, improving safeguards, concluding testing and fissile material cut-off treaties, reducing stockpiles further, establishing nuclear weapon-free zones and concluding binding security assurances. The Campaign, having long supported these principles, acclaimed this proposal.

Switzerland calls for a CTBT, a fissile material cut-off, and a P5 timetable for "progressive and substantial reductions" to be in place by the year 2000. Sweden calls for the P5 to negotiate further disarmament measures on "a specific time schedule."

The following states do not include the word unconditional in their calls for indefinite extension: Ecuador, Fiji, the Holy See, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, Singapore, South Korea, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Some of these states may insert conditions at a later date.

Bolivia, Guyana, Solomon Islands, Uganda and Zambia call for a conditional indefinite extension.

China supports either indefinite extension or rolling extensions. Brunei Darussalam and Sri Lanka are willing to go along with any option that is favored by a wide majority.

Rolling Extensions
Eight states advocate rolling extensions.

China would support rolling extensions of no less than 25 years (or indefinite).

Venezuela will formally submit a proposal for another 25-year term for the NPT, with another extension conference at the end of this period (a rolling extension with a positive vote).

Kenya supports a "long-term rolled-over" extension, and Nigeria supports a fixed period extension with another review and extension conference at the end.

Indonesia, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea call for rolling extensions, each linked to the achievement of specific disarmament objectives. Thailand supports fixed periods without linkage.

Against Indefinite Extension
Sixteen states otherwise oppose indefinite extensions.

Mali suggests a 15-20 year extension. Mauritius proposes amending the Treaty to expedite a nuclear weapon-free world.

Syria proposes recessing the Conference until "loopholes" are closed in the Treaty and universality is achieved (an idea which Egypt likes).

Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Sudan, and Zimbabwe propose linking the NPT's extension to the negotiation of a timetable for achieving complete nuclear disarmament.

Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria oppose extending the Treaty indefinitely without Israel's accession.

Libya stated it would not support the Treaty's extension unless Israel joined with a timetable for the dismantlement of its nuclear weapons.

One hurdle has been cleared -- a majority has been achieved for indefinite extension. Not until the votes are counted in May, however, will the NPT's future be secured once and for all. Between now and then, a thorough review of the Treaty will be conducted, the outcome of which is certain to affect the final vote. Many states may not support indefinite extension if the review fails to generate a groundswell of support.

See attached list for complete breakdown of states' positions on extension.

103 States in FAVOR: Afghanistan, Albania, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador*, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji*, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Holy See*, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy*, Japan*, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Korea (South)*, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia*, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia (FYR), Madagascar*, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands*, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia*, Mozambique*, Nauru, Nepal*, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay*, Peru*, Philippines*, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, St. Kitts & Nevis, San Marino, Senegal*, Singapore*, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan*, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago*, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,Uganda, Ukraine*, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan*, Western Samoa, Zambia.

(*Conditional or not unconditional)

23 States AGAINST Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia*, Iran, Jordan, Kenya*, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Myanmar*, Nigeria*, North Korea, Papua New Guinea*, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand*, Venezuela*, Yemen, Zimbabwe

(*favor rolling extensions)

28 States leaning YES Brunei Darussalam, Central African Rep., Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jamaica, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Qatar, St. Lucia, St. Vincent/Grenadine, Soa Tome & Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Swaziland, Togo, Zaire.

12 States leaning NO Barbados, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Haiti, Iraq, Laos, Lesotho, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay, Vietnam

11 Other UNDECIDED states Bangladesh, Belize, Burundi, Cape Verde, Gabon, Kuwait, Malawi, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda, Somalia

14 States not party to the Treaty Andorra, Angola, Brazil, Chile*, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti*, India, Israel, Oman, Pakistan, Serbia/Montenegro, United Arab Em., Vanuatu*

(* States expected to accede by the extension conference.)

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