Perspective

 

Nuclear Nonproliferation Conference Might Collapse on Final Day

Friday, May 28, 2010
By Elaine M. Grossman
Global Security Newswire
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20100528_1080.php

UNITED NATIONS -- A major international assembly on nonproliferation here could end in failure today, over the appearance or omission of a single word in the text of its proposed final document: “Israel” (see http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/ts_20100527_5847.php, May 27).

The U.S. delegation signaled that it could not accept an overt reference to the unconfirmed but widely recognized nuclear arsenal of its closest ally in the Middle East, according to conference delegates and observers. However, by Friday morning Washington reportedly had been persuaded to change its stance (see update, below).

At stake is whether the document can be adopted by consensus. Without such unanimity, the five-year gathering could end in stalemate and recriminations.

Ambassador Libran Cabactulan of the Philippines, president of the 2010 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty review conference, yesterday afternoon released the latest draft of text hammered out over the past four weeks of daily sessions attended by representatives of the accord’s 189 member nations.

The pending 28-page statement incorporates the work of three conference committees that addressed nonproliferation, disarmament and atomic energy issues, and is intended to strengthen the treaty regime. It includes 15 paragraphs on how NPT member nations plan to work toward designating the Middle East a region free of unconventional weapons and materials.

Read the rest of the article at the Global Security Newswire site (ibid.).

The reality

http://drybonesblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/no-nukes.html

Comments, in ENGLISH OR HEBREW ONLY, are welcome.

Yohanon Glenn
Yohanon.Glenn at gmail dot com