11:15 AM |
Hon Georgina te HeuheuMinister for Disarmament and Arms Control | |
| 4 May 2009 | Media Release |
| Positive environment for nuclear NPT meeting Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control Georgina te Heuheu is cautiously optimistic an upcoming nuclear non-proliferation meeting will provide a solid basis for a crucial meeting next year to work for a nuclear-free world.
The third and final Preparatory Committee meeting for the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference gets underway in New York today.
'The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation system,' Mrs te Heuheu said.
'The preparatory meeting will lay the ground work ahead of the five-yearly review of the NPT next year when progress toward a nuclear-free world will be reviewed.
'I hope it provides agreement for a solid foundation for the Review Conference so it can get down to substantive work straight away.
'The preparatory meeting will take place in a more positive international environment than for some years.
'We were especially encouraged by the speech which President Obama gave in Prague a couple of weeks ago. His vision of a world free of nuclear weapons is one to which New Zealanders have aspired for many years.
'But as important as US leadership is, progress cannot be expected without buy-in from all the nuclear-weapon states. A flexible and constructive approach from all NPT members – and above all a real desire to succeed – will be needed,' Mrs te Heuheu said.
The NPT is an agreement between five nuclear-weapon states (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) and non-nuclear-weapon states. In return for a commitment by states with nuclear weapons to reduce and ultimately eliminate them, those without nuclear weapons agree not to develop them.
In addition, the non-nuclear-weapon states will have access to the benefits of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Only India, Pakistan and Israel are not parties to the NPT.
Media contact Rose Hart 021 279 9878 04 8179878
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