EU Statement on Nuclear Disarmament and Negative Security Assurances
Mr. Chairman,1. I have the honour to take the floor on behalf of the European Union.
2. I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to introduce the Working Paper on FMCT that the EU submitted on 3 May 2007. The paper was distributed as Conference Document NPT/CONF.2010/PC1/WP.26.
We attach a clear priority to the negotiation without precondition, in the Conference on Disarmament, of such a treaty.
3. The EU is convinced that an FMCT, by banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, will make a significant contribution to nuclear disarmament efforts in accordance with Article VI of the NPT.
4. Decision No 2 of the 1995 Extension and Review Conference and the Outcome Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference call for the immediate commencement at the CD of negotiations on a Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices as one of the important measures to implement Article VI of the NPT. It is now high time that these commitments are delivered on.
5. The negotiation of an FMCT is an integral part of the Presidential Draft Decision (Document CD/2007/L.1) recently tabled by the Six 2007 Presidents of the CD in order to allow the Conference to resume substantive work. We would welcome if at its next session the Preparatory Committee would be in a position to take stock of substantial progress made in negotiations on an FMCT in the CD.
Mr. Chairman,
6. In its Statement on Cluster I the EU has commented on nuclear disarmament. Let me add a few specific remarks on the issue of security assurances.
7. The EU recognizes the continuing high value of the existing legally binding security assurances, provided for by the protocols of the Nuclear Weapon Free Zones and unilateral declarations of Nuclear Weapon States, noted by UNSC Resolution 984/1995 and reaffirmed at the sixth NPT Review Conference to Non Nuclear Weapon States Parties to the NPT on the use of or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Positive and negative assurances can play an important role in the NPT regime and can serve as an incentive to forego the acquisition of WMD. We are committed to promoting further consideration of security assurances.
8. The EU continues to attach great importance to the development of internationally recognized Nuclear Weapon Free Zones, established on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among States of the regions concerned as elaborated in the guidelines adopted by the UNDC in its 1999 substantive session. Effective Nuclear Weapon Free Zones enhance regional and global peace and security and are a means to promote nuclear disarmament, stability and confidence. The EU welcomes and encourages the signature and ratification by the Nuclear Weapon States of the relevant protocols to the Nuclear Weapon Free Zones following completion of the necessary consultations. We hope that outstanding issues concerning Nuclear Weapon Free Zones can be resolved through full consultations in accordance with the UNDC guidelines and with the agreement of all parties involved.
9. We call on Nuclear Weapon States to reaffirm existing security assurances noted by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 984 (1995) and to sign and ratify the relevant protocols on Nuclear Weapon Free Zones, drawn up following the requisite consultations, recognizing that Treaty-based security assurances are available to such zones.
