Tehran International Conference on Disarmament and Non-proliferation opens
Apr. 21, 2010
by Keisuke Yoshihara, Staff Writer, dispatched from Tehran
On April 17, an international conference under the banner "International Disarmament and Non-proliferation: World Security without Weapons of Mass Destruction" opened its two-day session in Tehran, the capital of Iran, whose suspected nuclear development has drawn international criticism. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the organizer of the gathering, about 200 people, including government officials and researchers, from roughly 60 nations are taking part in the conference.
At the opening ceremony, Iranian President H.E. Dr. Ahmadinejad referred to the conference slogan -- "Nuclear Energy for Every-one, Nuclear Weapons for No-one" -- and greeted the participants, saying that no one nation should be permitted to make a monopoly of nuclear energy. He appealed for the right to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Meanwhile, representatives of Syria and Iraq argued for the importance of establishing a zone free of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in the Middle East and criticized Israel, a de facto nuclear weapon state.
Though Iran claims that its uranium enrichment is for "peaceful purposes," the international community has criticized Iran's uranium enrichment out of concern that it may be diverted to military use. By holding this conference, Iran is believed to be seeking to gain support from the participating nations for the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and exercise influence over discussions at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference to be held in May.
On April 18, the conference will hold meetings of three subcommittees on 1) Disarmament challenges, 2) International obligations of States for disarmament and non-proliferation and consequences of the continued existence of WMDs, and 3) Practical steps for the materialization of disarmament. The conference will then summarize the discussions and come to a close.
(Originally published on April 18, 2010)
Related articles
Iranian official shares idea of disarmament conference in Iran with Hiroshima mayor (Dec. 28, 2009)
Iranian nuclear negotiator stresses peaceful use of nation's nuclear program (Dec. 28, 2009)
On April 17, an international conference under the banner "International Disarmament and Non-proliferation: World Security without Weapons of Mass Destruction" opened its two-day session in Tehran, the capital of Iran, whose suspected nuclear development has drawn international criticism. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the organizer of the gathering, about 200 people, including government officials and researchers, from roughly 60 nations are taking part in the conference.
At the opening ceremony, Iranian President H.E. Dr. Ahmadinejad referred to the conference slogan -- "Nuclear Energy for Every-one, Nuclear Weapons for No-one" -- and greeted the participants, saying that no one nation should be permitted to make a monopoly of nuclear energy. He appealed for the right to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Meanwhile, representatives of Syria and Iraq argued for the importance of establishing a zone free of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in the Middle East and criticized Israel, a de facto nuclear weapon state.
Though Iran claims that its uranium enrichment is for "peaceful purposes," the international community has criticized Iran's uranium enrichment out of concern that it may be diverted to military use. By holding this conference, Iran is believed to be seeking to gain support from the participating nations for the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and exercise influence over discussions at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference to be held in May.
On April 18, the conference will hold meetings of three subcommittees on 1) Disarmament challenges, 2) International obligations of States for disarmament and non-proliferation and consequences of the continued existence of WMDs, and 3) Practical steps for the materialization of disarmament. The conference will then summarize the discussions and come to a close.
(Originally published on April 18, 2010)
Related articles
Iranian official shares idea of disarmament conference in Iran with Hiroshima mayor (Dec. 28, 2009)
Iranian nuclear negotiator stresses peaceful use of nation's nuclear program (Dec. 28, 2009)
