Non-Aligned Challenge West on Future of NPT

Ten members of the Non-Aligned Movement proposed that the Non-Proliferation Treaty be extended for rolling periods of 25 years. They reached agreement late yesterday at the United Nations in New York. Additional co-sponsors are being sought and the proposal will be discussed at a Non-Aligned meeting scheduled for 2 May. A draft made available to BASIC argues for an extension decision which does not "imply the recognition in an international treaty of the perpetuation of the existence of the nuclear weapon states." The ten claim that the West and Russia's preferred option of indefinite extension does just this. The proposal also includes ideas for a stronger review process but falls short of the standing committee proposed by South Africa.

The proposal has been backed by Algeria, Colombia, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria and Venezuela. Of the ten, eight had opposed indefinite extension while Mexico had not announced its position and Colombia had been expected to support the U.S.

"The question now becomes whether this proposal will garner enough support to challenge the apparent majority for indefinite extension, or whether it will be viewed as merely a bargaining tool to extract concessions from the nuclear weapon states," said Stephen Young, Senior Analyst at BASIC. Twenty-five year rolling extensions had widely been regarded as the West's own fall back position.

U.S. officials have stated that they are prepared to meet some of the demands of the NAM and of Western states such as Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand. They seek concrete commitments on the path to a nuclear-weapon-free world. "Concessions mentioned include stronger language on the elimination of nuclear weapons and support for nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Pacific and Africa," said Dan Plesch, Director of BASIC. Such moves are not expected until the last days of the conference, which ends May 12th.

Four of the five nuclear weapon states have called for the indefinite extension of the Treaty. China has indicated it could support 25-year rolling extensions. However, Vice President Al Gore, warned in his speech to the conference April 19th that; "It is worth noting that even one of the longest review periods under discursion--twenty five years--is well within the service life time of a major nuclear weapons system. In practical effect rolling periods of review can have the same consequences for nuclear planning as would a decision taken right now to terminate the Treaty."

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