The NPT PrepCom continued on its sixth day with statements by 45 states in the morning and in the afternoon in the ‘Cluster 3’ discussions on the inalienable right of all parties to the Treaty to develop research, production, and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II.
The continuation of statements has pushed back by at least one day the circulation of draft recommendations by the Preparatory Committee to the 2015 NPT Review Conference and this engendered some consternation in a few delegations as they were expecting to see the draft recommendations on Monday afternoon.
Statement by the Brazilian representative
Brazil expressed its commitment to the safe and secure use of nuclear technology, as that is the only way that humanity can fully benefit from it. The strengthening of international commitments in these areas must serve the purpose of providing a stable environment which facilitates the promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, by preventing risks and threats that may result from the inappropriate or non-authorized use of nuclear energy.
Brazil stated that legitimate concerns with nuclear security and safety cannot be used as pretext for the imposition of constraints on the inalienable right of states to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Atomic bombs, rather than civilian nuclear facilities or activities, pose the greatest risk to humanity. All stockpiles of nuclear material for military use are exempt from multilateral control mechanisms.
According to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM), 98 per cent of the highly-enriched uranium and 86 per cent of the separated plutonium stockpiles worldwide are possessed by the nuclear-weapon states (NWS). Brazil recalled that along with 14 other countries with a similar view, it presented a Joint Statement to this year’s Nuclear Security Summit, entitled ‘In larger security: a comprehensive approach to nuclear security’. It noted that it is impossible to dissociate the quest for nuclear security, as is also the case for nuclear non-proliferation, from the effective implementation of disarmament commitments established in the NPT.
A world that accepts nuclear weapons will always be insecure. It is essential to eliminate such weapons, which, because of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of their use, remain a permanent threat to humanity. Brazil strongly believes that nuclear technology is an indispensable component of social, economic, and technological development of peoples around the world, in particular of those living in developing countries. This is, as already mentioned, the very rationale of Article IV of the NPT, which recognized the inalienable right of every state to the peaceful uses and development of nuclear energy. For the benefit of humankind, this right, which predates the NPT, must remain accordingly protected and enforced.
Statement by the European Union representative
The European Union (EU) statement informed that EU member states are strong supporters of the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Programme. The EU and its member states value the Agency's role in the responsible development of the peaceful applications of nuclear technology in the areas of human health, food and agriculture, water resources, environment, preservation of cultural heritage, nuclear and radiation safety, and nuclear energy in participating IAEA member states, thereby also contributing to meeting the needs of developing countries. The EU stressed the need to do everything possible to prevent the risks of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear or other radioactive material falling into the hands of terrorists.
In this context, the EU stressed the importance of compliance with obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1977 (2011), and called for improved nuclear security. The EU has provided support to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund since 2004 with more than €40 million in addition to voluntary contributions made individually by some of its member states. The EU will actively participate in the special meeting of the UN Security Council devoted to the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 in New York on 7 May 2014. The EU also actively participated in the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Security in July 2013 and welcomes the Ministerial Declaration adopted during the High Level Segment. Preventing nuclear terrorism by continuously improving the security of nuclear materials is a global challenge that requires a global platform.
Statement by the Austrian representative
Austria reminded delegations of the principled position of Austria regarding nuclear power. Austria reiterated that the inalienable right under Article IV to develop research, for production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in conformity with Articles I and II of the NPT also entails the option not to use nuclear power. Nuclear power can never be 100 per cent safe. Past accidents have shown this. Furthermore, given the long-term effects and responsibilities connected to the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear power is neither a viable option in efforts to promote sustainable development nor to address climate change. On the contrary—it poses an additional risk, given the combination of safety, security and proliferation concerns.
Statement by the South African representative
South Africa stated that along with the legal commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons and measures to prevent proliferation, the NPT reaffirms the inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy pursuant to Article IV of the Treaty. Peaceful nuclear co-operation and access to the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, pursuant to Article IV of the NPT, constitute one of the core objectives of the Treaty. In giving effect to Articles IV (1) and IV (2), South Africa therefore cautions against any decision that would amount to a reinterpretation of, or restriction on, this inalienable right.
South Africa supports the 2010 NPT Review Conference outcome which states that each country’s choices and decisions in the field of peaceful uses should be respected and under which member states undertook to facilitate and reaffirm the right of states parties to participate in the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for peaceful uses of nuclear energy; to give preferential treatment to the non-nuclear-weapon states parties to the Treaty, taking the needs of developing countries, in particular, into account; to facilitate the transfer of nuclear technology and international cooperation in conformity with Articles I, II, III and IV of the Treaty, and to eliminate undue restrictions inconsistent with the Treaty.
The demand for nuclear power and the application of nuclear technology will continue to increase. Nuclear power and the peaceful applications of nuclear technology, if optimised to the fullest, can meaningfully enhance the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and could contribute to the post-2015 UN development agenda. The inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology is of particular relevance and importance in attaining sustainable and accelerated economic growth in Africa.
Assessment and looking ahead
The statements reiterated the right recognized by the NPT for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Most statements explained the various applications of nuclear technology for human development. In contrast, Austria warned against the dangers of nuclear technology.
It is expected that at the end of Tuesday, or early on Wednesday morning, the Chairman will circulate to states parties a draft of the recommendations from the Preparatory Committee to the 2015 NPT Review Conference, on which the Chair will seek consensus for adoption following consideration of the document. Key areas of contention are likely to include: the humanitarian initiative on nuclear weapons, the Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and nuclear disarmament.
The NPT PrepCom continued on its sixth day with statements by 45 states in the morning and in the afternoon in the ‘Cluster 3’ discussions on the inalienable right of all parties to the Treaty to develop research, production, and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II.
The continuation of statements has pushed back by at least one day the circulation of draft recommendations by the Preparatory Committee to the 2015 NPT Review Conference and this engendered some consternation in a few delegations as they were expecting to see the draft recommendations on Monday afternoon.
Statement by the Brazilian representative
Brazil expressed its commitment to the safe and secure use of nuclear technology, as that is the only way that humanity can fully benefit from it. The strengthening of international commitments in these areas must serve the purpose of providing a stable environment which facilitates the promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, by preventing risks and threats that may result from the inappropriate or non-authorized use of nuclear energy.
Brazil stated that legitimate concerns with nuclear security and safety cannot be used as pretext for the imposition of constraints on the inalienable right of states to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Atomic bombs, rather than civilian nuclear facilities or activities, pose the greatest risk to humanity. All stockpiles of nuclear material for military use are exempt from multilateral control mechanisms.
According to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the International Panel on Fissile Materials (IPFM), 98 per cent of the highly-enriched uranium and 86 per cent of the separated plutonium stockpiles worldwide are possessed by the nuclear-weapon states (NWS). Brazil recalled that along with 14 other countries with a similar view, it presented a Joint Statement to this year’s Nuclear Security Summit, entitled ‘In larger security: a comprehensive approach to nuclear security’. It noted that it is impossible to dissociate the quest for nuclear security, as is also the case for nuclear non-proliferation, from the effective implementation of disarmament commitments established in the NPT.
A world that accepts nuclear weapons will always be insecure. It is essential to eliminate such weapons, which, because of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of their use, remain a permanent threat to humanity. Brazil strongly believes that nuclear technology is an indispensable component of social, economic, and technological development of peoples around the world, in particular of those living in developing countries. This is, as already mentioned, the very rationale of Article IV of the NPT, which recognized the inalienable right of every state to the peaceful uses and development of nuclear energy. For the benefit of humankind, this right, which predates the NPT, must remain accordingly protected and enforced.
Statement by the European Union representative
The European Union (EU) statement informed that EU member states are strong supporters of the IAEA's Technical Cooperation Programme. The EU and its member states value the Agency's role in the responsible development of the peaceful applications of nuclear technology in the areas of human health, food and agriculture, water resources, environment, preservation of cultural heritage, nuclear and radiation safety, and nuclear energy in participating IAEA member states, thereby also contributing to meeting the needs of developing countries. The EU stressed the need to do everything possible to prevent the risks of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear or other radioactive material falling into the hands of terrorists.
In this context, the EU stressed the importance of compliance with obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1977 (2011), and called for improved nuclear security. The EU has provided support to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund since 2004 with more than €40 million in addition to voluntary contributions made individually by some of its member states. The EU will actively participate in the special meeting of the UN Security Council devoted to the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 in New York on 7 May 2014. The EU also actively participated in the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Security in July 2013 and welcomes the Ministerial Declaration adopted during the High Level Segment. Preventing nuclear terrorism by continuously improving the security of nuclear materials is a global challenge that requires a global platform.
Statement by the Austrian representative
Austria reminded delegations of the principled position of Austria regarding nuclear power. Austria reiterated that the inalienable right under Article IV to develop research, for production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in conformity with Articles I and II of the NPT also entails the option not to use nuclear power. Nuclear power can never be 100 per cent safe. Past accidents have shown this. Furthermore, given the long-term effects and responsibilities connected to the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear power is neither a viable option in efforts to promote sustainable development nor to address climate change. On the contrary—it poses an additional risk, given the combination of safety, security and proliferation concerns.
Statement by the South African representative
South Africa stated that along with the legal commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons and measures to prevent proliferation, the NPT reaffirms the inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy pursuant to Article IV of the Treaty. Peaceful nuclear co-operation and access to the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, pursuant to Article IV of the NPT, constitute one of the core objectives of the Treaty. In giving effect to Articles IV (1) and IV (2), South Africa therefore cautions against any decision that would amount to a reinterpretation of, or restriction on, this inalienable right.
South Africa supports the 2010 NPT Review Conference outcome which states that each country’s choices and decisions in the field of peaceful uses should be respected and under which member states undertook to facilitate and reaffirm the right of states parties to participate in the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for peaceful uses of nuclear energy; to give preferential treatment to the non-nuclear-weapon states parties to the Treaty, taking the needs of developing countries, in particular, into account; to facilitate the transfer of nuclear technology and international cooperation in conformity with Articles I, II, III and IV of the Treaty, and to eliminate undue restrictions inconsistent with the Treaty.
The demand for nuclear power and the application of nuclear technology will continue to increase. Nuclear power and the peaceful applications of nuclear technology, if optimised to the fullest, can meaningfully enhance the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and could contribute to the post-2015 UN development agenda. The inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology is of particular relevance and importance in attaining sustainable and accelerated economic growth in Africa.
Assessment and looking ahead
The statements reiterated the right recognized by the NPT for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Most statements explained the various applications of nuclear technology for human development. In contrast, Austria warned against the dangers of nuclear technology.
It is expected that at the end of Tuesday, or early on Wednesday morning, the Chairman will circulate to states parties a draft of the recommendations from the Preparatory Committee to the 2015 NPT Review Conference, on which the Chair will seek consensus for adoption following consideration of the document. Key areas of contention are likely to include: the humanitarian initiative on nuclear weapons, the Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and nuclear disarmament.