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U.S. Says Nonproliferation Treaty Faces Crisis By Jim Wurst UNITED NATIONS — The United States believes there is a “crisis of noncompliance” with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which needs to be addressed or the effectiveness of the treaty will “erode,” U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton said this morning (see GSN, April 26). Speaking to the annual two-week meeting of NPT parties, Bolton said, “The time for business as usual is over. An irresponsible handful of nations not living up to their treaty commitments are undermining the NPT’s mission. Without full compliance by all NPT members, confidence in the NPT as a nonproliferation instrument erodes.” The United States has made several proposals to “address loopholes and the crisis of noncompliance with the NPT,” said Bolton. Those proposals include urging states that supply nuclear technology and materials to deny such material to any government that has not concluded a more intrusive safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to work “with the IAEA and its members to ensure that clandestine nuclear activity is uncovered and reported to the United Nations Security Council.” “We must resolve to deal firmly and swiftly with countries whose nuclear programs pose a serious threat to the NPT,” said Bolton. “We must resolve to send a signal to potential treaty violators that their actions will not be tolerated.” “At least four NPT non-nuclear member countries were or are using the NPT as cover for the development of nuclear weapons,” he added, naming Iraq, Iran, Libya and North Korea. Bolton devoted the most attention to questions about Iran’s nuclear program. “It is clear that the primary role of Iran’s ‘nuclear power’ program is to serve as a cover and a pretext for the import of nuclear technology and expertise that can be used to support nuclear weapons development,” he said. “Iran is lying.” Iran is scheduled to address the meeting later today. Earlier in the meeting, the three NPT nuclear weapon states with the smallest nuclear stockpiles — China, France and the United Kingdom — highlighted their commitments to nuclear disarmament. British Ambassador David Broucher said yesterday, “We hold less than 200 operationally available warheads. This amounts to a reduction of 70 percent in the explosive power of our nuclear weapons since the end of the Cold War.” French Ambassador Francois Rivasseau this morning said his country is committed to “cutting nuclear weapons as a whole within the framework of general and complete disarmament.” All surface-to-surface missiles have been eliminated and there have been deep cuts in submarine-based missiles, he said. Chinese Ambassador Hu Xiaodi told the meeting yesterday, “China has always supported a complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, exercised utmost restraint in developing nuclear weapons and maintained a minimum arsenal necessary for self-defense only. China has never and will not take part in any arms race.” Russia, the fifth nuclear weapons state party to the NPT, is scheduled to address the meeting later today. Many of the delegates speaking at the opening day of the meeting yesterday said the most urgent matter facing the NPT is for the nuclear weapons states to fulfill their obligations under Article 6 of the treaty to eliminate their stockpiles. Taking the opposite position, Bolton said, “We cannot divert attention from the violations we face by focusing on Article 6 issues that do not exist. If a party cares about the NPT, then there is a corresponding requirement to care about violations and enforcement.” Many countries did not agree with his categorization that disarmament issues “do not exist.” Peter Goosen, the director for nonproliferation and disarmament in South Africa’s Foreign Ministry, said yesterday, “The problems of imbalance and selective emphasis on preferred aspects of the NPT have been exacerbated in the recent past by the sole emphasis that is being placed on nonproliferation.” While nonproliferation efforts are important, he said, “They do not, however, provide a rationale for failing to address the other key elements of the treaty.” Goosen said there is “no sign” that the five nuclear powers are considering multilateral negotiations while there are indications that there are “new emerging approaches to the broader role of nuclear weapons as part of security strategies, including rationalizations for the use … of nuclear weapons.” There was also widespread support for universal adherence to the NPT, meaning encouraging ratification of the NPT by the nuclear-armed states that are not party to the treaty — India, Pakistan and Israel. Speakers urged the three countries to work toward regional security arrangements to address their and their neighbors’ security concerns. France’s Rivasseau said the three “must align themselves as closely as possible to international norms” on arms control.
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