18 MAY 2010

Week 2 of the NPT Review Conference – Draft proposals produced

The three main committees at the Review Conference (Main Committee 1, Disarmament; Main Committee 2, Non-Proliferation; Main Committee 3, Nuclear Energy) have presented draft texts which will now be negotiated over the final two weeks.

Many state parties to the NPT remain sceptical regarding the determination of the nuclear weapons powers to fulfil their unequivocal undertaking to achieve the total elimination of all nuclear weapons.

This is maybe understandable. A briefing from the While House last week outlines the deal made with the Senate on ratification of the new START Treaty. This affirms plans for maintaining a strong nuclear deterrent including a massive $80 billion investment in the US nuclear weapons complex.

The draft text from Main Committee 1 on Disarmament has proposed that timescales be put to steps towards disarmament. This includes, for example, a proposed international conference in 2014 under the auspices of the UN Secretary General to agree a road map for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified time frame.

The Review Conference still has some way to go and it is too early to sound notes of optimism. We will be looking to see to whether non-nuclear weapons states support a strengthening of the status of the IAEA additional protocol (which some argue should be dependent on further commitments on disarmament). We will also be looking for concrete commitments from nuclear weapons states that might indicate a preparedness to reduce the role of nuclear weapons within their security strategies and to map the journey towards a world free of nuclear weapons.

7 MAY 2010

Petition presented at the NPT Review Conference on 7 May 2010

The Now is the Time petition was presented to Ambassador John Duncan, Head of UK delegation at the NPT Review Conference and Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. The presentation was made in New York by Rev Dr Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches-USA on behalf of the UK churches. Rev Kinnamon led the World Council of Churches delegation to the NPT Review Conference.

John Duncan stated that he appreciated the interest shown by UK churches and their members. The demands outlined in the petition then formed the basis of a constructive discussion between the World Council of Churches delegation and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Team.

The petition carried 1,600 signatures. It will be presented to the UK Prime Minister before the end of the Review Conference. Signatures continue to trickle in so there is still a chance of the petition topping the 2,000 mark by the time it is presented to Number 10. Do encourage people to sign on line.

NPT Review Conference – Week 1

WCC expresses confidence as Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference begins

The NPT Review Conference opened in New York on Monday 3 May, attended by nearly 200 governments and 120 Non-Governmental Organisations. The first day was marked by a speech from President Ahmadinejad of Iran which caused a walkout of some delegations.

Nevertheless a World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation present in New York expressed optimism that the conference showed “positive signs”. One such sign was the announcement by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton that the US would declare the number of active nuclear weapons in its arsenal – a disclosure that other states have requested for decades. The Pentagon then revealed that the US currently has 5,113 warheads actively deployed.

The WCC delegation will present the petition from UK churches to UK Foreign Office officials at the Review Conference in New York shortly.

5 MARCH 2010

Only a decade to bring nuclear weapons under control, says PM's advisor on nuclear proliferation

Baroness Shirley Williams warns that the proliferation of nuclear weapons is one of the greatest threats to the survival of humankind.
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