Iran vs. the US at the NPT PrepCom
From the US — “Today’s nuclear weapon states will not eliminate their nuclear weapons without the assurance that additional states will not obtain such weapons tomorrow.” That is precisely what the NPT is there for, but of course it’s a two way street, the nuclear weapons states are to disarm, not hold onto their nukes in perpetuity. On balance, who is not living up to their end of the bargain, the non- nuclear or the nuclear weapons states?
Thanks to our colleague Jill Parillo from PSR for this…
Wednesday and Thursday the NPT parties began, and concluded, speaking on ‘Cluster One’ issues (nuclear disarmament and security assurances). The Iran vs. the West debate has surfaced as the only major hurdle to success at the 2010 NPT Review Conference. US Representative Rose Gottemoeller said on the UN floor said that “Today’s nuclear weapon states will not eliminate their nuclear weapons without the assurance that additional states will not obtain such weapons tomorrow.” Not only is the United States saying that Iran is blocking NPT progress, but that the nation is also blocking the abolition movement.
Iran was also part of the ‘Cluster Two’ (nonproliferation, safeguards and nuclear weapon free zones) statements that started up yesterday and will conclude today, Friday. The European Union called Iran’s nuclear program a substantial threat, urging Iran to implement UN Security Council Resolutions, and describing its “flouting” of them as unacceptable. The United States, refrained from commenting too much on Iran’s case directly, although did note that Iran broke NPT rules.
China made a case for more negotiations towards a solution, and interesting to note, the Russians did not even mention Iran in their statement. Iran earlier in the week pointed out that the NPT is weakened by the fact that the United States, the United Kingdom and France have not disarmed, but left out mention of Russia. It seems that Iran may be bandwagoning with Russia, not sure if China is on board or not, yet.
As one who participated as an NGO with Mayors for Peace
in the 2005 NPT Review Conference, I was pleased with
the progress that has been made thus far in the prep com for 2010.
I would
like to remind participants that the 2000 Rev Conf. specified 13 steps,including the CTB leading to total
nuclear disarmament mandated by Article Vl of the treaty.A review of these agreed steps leading to their implementation would bring us closer to our goal of a nuclear weapons disarmament convention in the near future and a definite endpoint to the possibility of all out nuclear war..