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U.S., EU Issue WMD Proliferation Statement
The United States and the European Union said Saturday that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction “is a major threat to international peace and security” in a joint declaration issued at the U.S.-EU summit in Shannon, Ireland. The statement listed joint actions aimed at preventing, containing and reversing proliferation: * Urging all states to fully implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1540, which identifies actions states should take to stop WMD proliferation (see GSN, April 29); * Establishing new measures in accordance with the G-8 Action Plan for Nonproliferation, announced June 9 (see GSN, June 10); * Preserving the integrity of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (see GSN, May 10); * Strengthening and universalizing treaties and regimes that ban WMD proliferation; * Enhancing efforts to promote radioactive materials security; and * Amending the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials to cover domestic transport, storage and use of nuclear material for peaceful purposes. The parties said they were “disturbed by Iran’s recent announcement of its intention to resume manufacturing and assembly of centrifuges” and urged that country to “rethink its decision,” according to the document (see related GSN story, today). They also called for North Korea to “completely, verifiably, and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear program,” and expressed concern about the potential for Pyongyang to “export fissile material or nuclear weapons to dangerous states and terrorist groups” (see related GSN story, today). In contrast with criticisms of Iran and North Korea, the declaration praised Libya’s abandonment of its WMD programs, and said the United States and the European Union would work with Libya to implement its nonproliferation commitments (White House release, June 26).
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