By Holy See Mission
Statement by H.E. Archbishop Celestino MigliorePermanent Observer of the Holy
See to the United Nationsat the
Third Session of the Preparatory Committee forthe
2005 Review Conference of the Parties to theTreaty
on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsApril 26-May 7, 2004Mr. Chairman,
This third session of
the Preparatory Committee for the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties
to the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is called upon
to make
recommendations for further action in the long struggle to rid the world
of
nuclear weapons.
The Holy See would like
to emphasize at the outset that the recommendations should flow from a
common
desire to protect the integrity of the Treaty. This Treaty has
contributed to
international peace and security but still has much to accomplish. It is
the
integrity of the Treaty and its good faith application that are
challenged today
and which must be addressed. It must be said, and sadly so, that more
than three
decades after the advent of the NPT, nine years after its indefinite
extension,
and four years after States Parties made an “unequivocal undertaking” to
achieve
total elimination through the progressive application of 13 Practical
Steps, the
integrity of the NPT is severely compromised.
In
essence, the NPT promised a world in which nuclear weapons would be
eliminated
and nuclear technological cooperation for development would be
widespread. The
heart of this anticipated cooperation was the bargain struck between the
non-nuclear-weapon States, which agreed not to acquire nuclear weapons
in return
for the nuclear-weapon States negotiating the elimination of their
nuclear
arsenals.
Mr. Chairman,
The current
geo-political environment, especially considering the threat posed by
global
terrorist networks acquiring weapons of mass destruction, requires us to
reinforce these commitments. At the same time, it is becoming obvious
that
nuclear business as usual cannot continue.
Nuclear-weapon States
have not given evidence of fulfillment of their Article VI obligation,
that is,
the negotiation of effective measures related to the elimination of
their
nuclear arsenals. The modernization of nuclear weapons and development
of new
nuclear weapons technologies is taking place now and challenges directly
the
viability of the Treaty. It continues to be a discordant note in
international
relationships that some States, which profess ardent support for the
NPT, are
still attached to military policies which hold that nuclear weapons are
essential as the supreme guarantee of security. Nuclear-weapon States
should be
pressed to reveal under what security conditions and assurances they
could
eliminate their nuclear arsenals. More positively, the work of the
Nuclear
Suppliers' Group should help enforce their Article I obligations not to
transfer
nuclear weapons or assist, encourage or induce any non-nuclear-weapon
State to
acquire such devices.
On the other hand, non-nuclear-weapon States Parties have
Article II
obligations which include not receiving, transferring, manufacturing or
otherwise acquiring nuclear weapons. While Article IV admits the
“inalienable
right of all Parties to develop research, production and use of nuclear
energy
for peaceful purposes”, it is becoming clear that such peaceful
activities can
be too easily diverted into weapons programs. We all know that the role
of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in this regard is vital and
should be
strengthened, with more vigilance exercised on the part of all States
Parties.
Yet another problem is
posed by States which remain outside or withdraw from the NPT. Being
outside the
Treaty framework should not place such States outside larger
non-proliferation
concerns. At the very least, various forms of political, economic and
security
leverage can and should be used to assure compliance with the goals of
non-proliferation and disarmament.
At the level of
security doctrine, there is a great need to move beyond nuclear
deterrence. The
time has come for all States to comply with the unanimous conclusion of
the
International Court of Justice that negotiations toward nuclear
disarmament be
pursued and achieved in good faith under strict and effective
international
control.
The
Holy See reiterates its stand that a “peace” based on nuclear weapons
cannot be
the peace we seek in the 21st century. Reaffirming
fundamental
opposition to nuclear weapons as a threat to the survival of humanity,
the
States Parties must now focus their attention on recommendations that
can
command common support.
Attention must be paid
to the 13 Practical Steps for systematic and progressive efforts to
implement
Article VI of the Treaty; the importance of completing ratification
required to
achieve the early entry-into-force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty;
the necessity of irreversible dismantling of tactical and strategic
stocks in a
transparent and verifiable manner; the process of accounting for and
control of
fissile materials on a worldwide basis in accordance with NPT
principles; and
the strengthening of the capacity of the IAEA and adherence to its
protocols.
To advance this agenda,
a global dialogue is necessary. This dialogue should be multilateral,
informed
by public opinion and the views of expert analysts. Consideration should
be
given to the holding of an international conference to identify ways to
eliminate nuclear dangers, such as those explicitly mentioned in the
U.N.
Millennium Declaration. The Holy See, deeply concerned about the present
crisis
of the non-proliferation regime, supports this initiative for such a
conference.
Solutions to the
terrible dilemma posed by nuclear weapons are not beyond us. A program
of action
towards elimination could be advanced once all States Parties express
their
determination to protect the integrity of the NPT.
Thank you,
Mr. Chairman.
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