On Friday 9 May the NPT Preparatory Committee wound up its work on a high note, despite not being able to find consensus on the recommendations from the Preparatory Committee to the 2015 NPT Review Conference.
Recommendations to the 2015 NPT Review Conference
The Chairman’s draft recommendations, which did not garner consensus on Thursday, were converted into a Chair’s working paper and will be conveyed to the 2015 Review Conference under his authority as the ‘Recommendations by the Chair to the 2015 NPT Review Conference’, without prejudice to the positions of states parties or to the work of the Review Conference. Some revisions and adjustments were made to the working paper based on the comments of states parties on Thursday morning.
In the Explanatory Note attached to the Chair’s working paper, the Chair noted that ‘the work of the third session of the Preparatory Committee was carried out in a positive spirit which continued to the very end. The draft recommendations were well received by the States parties, who indicated that further consideration of the recommendations could lead to a consensus, however, given the lack of time to engage in further consultations and negotiations, the Chair decided to convey the recommendations to the Review Conference in the form of a working paper under his own authority.’
The overall chapeau to the Chair’s recommendations stated that the Preparatory Committee reaffirms the need to continue to move with determination towards the full realization and effective implementation of the provisions of the Treaty, and accordingly adopts the following recommendations to the 2015 NPT Review Conference, without prejudice to the work of the Review Conference. States parties presented a rich menu of suggestions and proposals for consideration at the third session of the Preparatory Committee across the three pillars of the Treaty (as well as regional issues and universality) for inclusion in recommendations to the 2015 Review Conference, including the possible actions and steps listed in the working paper.
Key recommendations
The key recommendations under the nuclear disarmament heading were that the 2015 Review Conference:
- Urge the pursuit of policies that are fully compatible with the Treaty and the objective of achieving a world without nuclear weapons;
- Call for accelerated actions by the nuclear-weapon states in implementing the unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals in an irreversible, transparent and verifiable manner, as well as concrete and measureable steps to reduce the high-alert status of nuclear weapon systems and steps to reduce the risk of their accidental use, including through unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures;
- Call for the prompt and full implementation by states parties of any commitments in the action plan on nuclear disarmament adopted at the 2010 Review Conference that have yet to be fulfilled, particularly the commitments undertaken by the nuclear-weapon states in Action 5 and including the specification of agreed timelines for their completion;
- Encourage the nuclear-weapon states not to develop new types of nuclear weapons, qualitative improvements to existing nuclear weapons and new missions for nuclear weapons and related facilities, and further minimize the role and significance of nuclear weapons in all military and security concepts, doctrines and policies;
- Take note of the reports submitted by the nuclear-weapon states in a common standard format and encourage more detailed and specific reports building upon their continuing efforts to further enhance transparency and increase mutual confidence, including through regular meetings of the nuclear-weapon states;
- Further consider the devastation that would be visited upon all humankind by any use of nuclear weapons, and since there is no competent international capacity to address the resulting catastrophic humanitarian consequences, to reaffirm the need for all states at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law; and to consider the new proposals and initiatives from governments and civil society related to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons;
- Take note of the five-point proposal for nuclear disarmament of the United Nations Secretary-General to consider the elaboration of a comprehensive, negotiated legally-binding structured framework to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons, comprised of separate mutually reinforcing instruments, backed by a strong system of verification, as well as defined benchmarks and timelines;
- The entry into force as soon as possible of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), recalling the responsibility of all states to promote that Treaty; the urgency of the signature and/or ratification of the CTBT by the remaining eight Annex 2 states necessary for the entry into force of the CTBT; pending the entry into force of the CTBT, the maintenance of moratoria on nuclear test explosions and refrain from any action that could defeat the objective and purpose of the CTBT; and increased support for the Provisional Technical Secretariat and the International Monitoring System;
- The immediate commencement of negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament, within the context of an agreed, comprehensive and balanced programme of work, of a verifiable, non-discriminatory and universal treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; pending the conclusion of such negotiations the maintenance of a moratorium on the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons in accordance with the report of the Special Coordinator of 1995 (CD/1299) and the mandate contained therein; the designation and placement under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards of fissile material no longer required for military programmes to ensure the irreversible removal of such fissile material, and the initiation of processes to dismantle or convert associated fissile material production facilities; and the successful conclusion of the work of the group of governmental experts established pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/67/53;
- The immediate discussion at the Conference on Disarmament, within the context of an agreed, comprehensive and balanced programme of work, of effective international legally-binding arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, with a view to elaborating recommendations dealing with all aspects of this issue, not excluding an internationally legally binding instrument, and recognition of the need to fully respect their existing commitments with regard to security assurances;
- The establishment of further nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs), where appropriate, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among states of the region concerned, the entry into force of all Protocols to NWFZ treaties, and review of any related reservations; the recognition of the five existing NWFZ treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok, Pelindaba and on a NWFZ in Central Asia, and Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free status, as important contributions to achieving a world without nuclear weapons and to strengthening regional security; and welcome the signing by the nuclear-weapon states of the Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia on 6 May 2014.
The 2015 Review Conference should consider additional measures, including those that would enhance confidence through increased transparency and developing effective and efficient verification capabilities related to nuclear disarmament, including:
- Implementing initiatives in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation education, including continued efforts to educate the new generation, the use of new information and communications technology, as well as collaboration among governments, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions and the private sector;
- Stressing the importance of regular structured reports by all states parties within the framework of the strengthened review process of the Treaty, on the implementation of Article VI, the 2010 action plan, the practical steps agreed to in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference, and paragraph 4(c) of the 1995 Decision 2.
Regional issues
Regarding the key regional issues of the Middle East and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea), the Chair’s recommendations included:
- The Preparatory Committee notes the importance of the implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East, and the related outcomes of the 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences; including the convening without further delay of the postponed 2012 Conference, on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at by the states of the region, taking as its terms of reference the 1995 Resolution.
- The Preparatory Committee welcomes the letters deposited with the UN Secretary-General by the members of the League of Arab States and Iran in which they, among other things, endorsed the declaration of the Middle East as a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction; and also welcome the Report of the Facilitator.
- The Preparatory Committee notes the disappointment of states parties on the postponement of the 2012 Conference, as agreed at the 2010 Review Conference; notes the commitments of the UN Secretary-General and the co-sponsors of the 1995 Resolution, in consultation with the states of the region, to hold the postponed 2012 Conference this year as soon as agreement is reached, with the support of the Facilitator, among the states of the region on the practical arrangements, and with the support of the nuclear-weapon states.
- The Preparatory Committee recommends that the 2015 Review Conference: reaffirm the importance of the implementation of the 1995 Resolution and the related outcomes of the 2000 and 2010 NPT Review Conferences; stress that the Resolution remains valid until the goals and objectives are achieved; underscore that the Resolution is an essential element of the outcome of the 1995 Conference and of the basis on which the Treaty was indefinitely extended without a vote in 1995; resolve that states parties undertake, individually and collectively, all necessary measures aimed at the prompt implementation of the 1995 Resolution and the related outcomes of the 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences.
- The Preparatory Committee recommends that the 2015 Review Conference: express serious concern about North Korea’s nuclear programme; also reaffirm that North Korea cannot have the status of a nuclear-weapon state in accordance with the Treaty; urgently call upon North Korea to cease conducting any further nuclear tests; fulfil without delay all of its international obligations; return at an early date to the NPT and its IAEA safeguards agreement; abandon all nuclear programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner; and to this end call for the resumption of diplomatic dialogue on the peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue with North Korea.
On the issues of the universality and the strengthened review process of the Treaty, the recommendations included:
- The Preparatory Committee recommends that the 2015 Review Conference renew its call on India, Israel and Pakistan to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon states promptly and without conditions and to bring into force comprehensive safeguards agreements as required by the Treaty. The Preparatory Committee further recommends that the 2015 Review Conference call upon North Korea to resume its adherence to the NPT. The Preparatory Committee also recommends that the 2015 Review Conference call upon South Sudan to accede to the Treaty.
- The Preparatory Committee recommends that the 2015 Review Conference: continue to examine ways and means of improving the effectiveness of the strengthened review process of the Treaty and measures aimed at reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of the review process; and reaffirm the implementation of Decision 1 adopted at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference and ‘Improving the effectiveness of the strengthened review process for the Treaty’ agreed at the 2000 NPT Review Conference.
The Chair’s recommendations also included those on nuclear non-proliferation and on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which are not discussed in this report.
Final Report of the Preparatory Committee
The Preparatory Committee adopted the ‘Final report of Preparatory Committee to the 2015 NPT Review Conference’ by consensus, first paragraph by paragraph, and then as a whole. The report lays out the terms of reference and organization of work of the Preparatory Committee. The report noted that at its 66th session, the UN General Assembly, through Resolution 66/33 of 2 December 2011, took note of the NPT states parties to convene the first session of the Preparatory Committee in Vienna from 30 April to 11 May 2012. The second session was held in Geneva from 22 April to 3 May 2013, and its third and final session in New York from 28 April to 9 May 2014. A total of 149 of the 189 states that are parties to the NPT participated in one or more sessions. Palestine participated in the work of the meetings of the Preparatory Committee as an observer. The Review Conference will be held in New York from 27 April to 22 May 2015.
Following the adoption of the final report of the Preparatory Committee, 21 delegations took the floor to thank the Chair and his team for their work and made brief statements on substantive issues of importance to them. Statements were made by the United States, Japan, the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Brazil, Indonesia on behalf of the Group of Non-Aligned States (NAM), Nigeria on behalf of the African Group, China, Cuba, Argentina, Iraq on behalf of the Arab Group, Ireland on behalf of the New Agenda Coalition (NAC), Colombia, Morocco, Chile, Guatemala, Egypt, Mexico, Russia, the Republic of Korea (ROK, South Korea) and Saudi Arabia.
Conclusion
The Chairman of the 2014 NPT Preparatory Committee, Ambassador Enrique Román-Morey, expressed his thanks to all delegations and to his team including SIPRI, the interpreters, conference officers and civil society participants. The Chair noted that he had conducted the work of the Preparatory Committee in full transparency and had consulted with all regional, political and issue-based groupings of states, had listened to and carefully considered their views and positions in preparing his draft recommendations, and had tried to strike an acceptable balance on controversial issues.
The Chair concluded the work of the Preparatory Committee by noting that the Committee had completed its mandate to agree on all of the arrangements for the 2015 Review Conference, and that despite the fact that it could not agree on the recommendations the positive spirit of the Committee should carry over and enable a good start to the 2015 NPT Review Conference. The meeting closed at 11:25 am and the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 NPT Review Conference concluded its work on a high note of sustained applause for the Chair.