Major powers reaffirm backing for nuclear non-proliferation pact

NUKEWARS

IAEA chief warns of new 'virtual' nuclear powers: interview
Between ten and 20 countries will likely soon develop the capacity to build nuclear weapons unless major powers take steps to disarm, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said Friday. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei predicted a surge in the number of "virtual nuclear weapons states" who can produce plutonium or highly enriched uranium and know how to make warheads. While they would likely stop short of assembling a weapon, thus remaining technically compliant with the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), they could be within a couple of months of deploying and using a nuclear bomb. "This is the phenomenon we see now and what people worry about in Iran. And this phenomenon goes much beyond Iran," said ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy (IAEA). "Pretty soon... you will have nine weapons states and probably another 10 or 20 virtual weapons states." Western powers fear Iran is secretly trying to build nuclear weapons, a charge denied by Tehran, which says its nuclear programme is for civilian use. ElBaradei, who is due to leave his job in November, said the regime built around the 1970 NPT to stop the spread of nuclear weapons risked collapse. "Any regime ... has to have a sense of fairness and equity and it is not there," he told the Guardian. He added: "We still live in a world where if you have nuclear weapons, you are buying power, you are buying insurance against attack. That is not lost on those who do not have nuclear weapons, particularly in [conflict] regions." ElBaradei expressed most concern about the spread of nuclear technology in the Middle East, which he said was a "ticking bomb". The only solution was for established nuclear powers to disarm as rapidly as possible and pass internationally agreed bans on nuclear tests and on the production of weapons-grade fissile material, he said. "If some of this concrete action is taken before the NPT [conference next April], you would have a completely different environment " he said. "All these so-called virtual weapons states, or virtual wannabe weapons states, will think twice ... because then the major powers will have the moral authority to go after them and say: 'We are doing our part of the bargain. Now it is up to you."

by Staff Writers
United Nations (AFP) May 15, 2009
The five major UN powers on Friday pledged renewed support for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and hailed progress made in preparatory talks for a treaty review conference in 2010.

The UN Security Council's five veto-wielding permanent members reiterated in a statement their "enduring and unequivocal commitment to work towards nuclear disarmament, an obligation shared by all NPT states parties."

"We note our commitment to use the opportunity of the 2010 Review Conference to preserve international confidence in the Treaty and to strengthen it in all its aspects," Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States said.

"We urge all NPT states parties to share in this goal and join us working to ensure a successful and balanced review," they added.

They also pledged to "further develop proposals that promise to expand the peaceful use of nuclear energy in ways that reduce proliferation risk."

The five also welcomed the decision by Washington and Moscow to negotiate a successor to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), after talks made little progress under former US president George W. Bush.

Russian and US officials are due to meet in Moscow next week for the first official round of bargaining on replacing START, seen as a cornerstone of strategic arms control.

The Cold War-era treaty placed strict limits on the number of missiles and warheads that Moscow and Washington could have, leading to steep reductions in the nuclear arsenals of both sides.

Zimbabwe's UN Ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku, who chaired the two-week preparatory session which ended here Friday, said participants agreed on an "ambitious" agenda for next year's NPT review session.

He stresssed the need to maintain a delicate balance between the NPT's three pillars: disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

A senior US administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he was pleased with the outcome of the preparatory session, particularly the deal on the agenda and rules of procedure for next year's review conference.

"We're off to a very good start," the official said, expressing optimism that progress can be made next year on all three pillars of the NPT -- disarmament, non-proliferation and support for peaceful nuclear energy.

"There's got to be a balanced approach," he added.

The US official also made clear that top US arms control negotiator Rose Gottemoelle did not break new ground last week when she urged presumed atomic powers India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea to join the NPT.

"The United States has always advocated universal adherence" to the NPT, he said while pointing out that it was "the responsibility of all countries to try to create conditions that will make it possible for those countries to join the treaty."

The US official said the four presumed nuclear weapons states were unlikely to join the NPT "until there is a change in the overall political and security context" in which they make those decisions.

"In the particular case of the Middle East, Israeli adherence to the NPT is only going to be possible in the context of ... full compliance with (the treaty in the region)," he noted.

Establishing a Middle East nuclear weapons-free zone depends on Iran fully complying with its NPT obligations and suspending uranium enrichment, he added.

Israel, widely considered the Middle East's sole nuclear armed power, suspects Iran of using its uranium enrichment program as a cover to build atomic weapons, a charge that Tehran denies.

The previous review conference in May 2005 ended in disarray, with no agreement from the participants.

Review conferences have been held every five years since the treaty was ratified in 1970. There are currently 189 signatory countries to the treaty.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us Digg Reddit

YahooMyWeb Google Facebook

Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

NUKEWARS

US: Iran threat underlines need for Israel to seek peace
Washington (AFP) May 10, 2009
The US government agrees that Iran's nuclear ambitions pose an "existential threat" to Israel but that only reinforces the need for Middle East peace, a top official said Sunday. General James Jones, President Barack Obama's national security advisor, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would hear the US message on the need for a "two-state" solution first-hand when he comes here ... read more

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement