Iran and U.S. trade accusations at start of NPT Review Conference
May 6, 2010
by Yumi Kanazaki and Kohei Okata, Staff Writers, dispatched from New York
On May 3, following the opening ceremony, addresses by government representatives of the member nations began at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference held at United Nations Headquarters. With accusations traded between Iran, which has been criticized for its suspected nuclear weapons development, and the United States, which is seeking additional sanctions against Iran, the conference opened on a contentious note.
When Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stepped to the podium, some nations, including the United States, walked out of the venue for the duration of his address. Mr. Ahmadinejad denounced the United States and the de facto nuclear weapon state of Israel, declaring that the possession of nuclear weapons is disgraceful and dishonorable. The Iranian president also emphasized the inequality of the NPT regime, arguing that the system imposes pressure on non-nuclear weapon states, but that the nuclear weapon states are not affected by its provisions.
With Iran's uranium enrichment in mind, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remarked: "Iran placed the future of the nonproliferation regime in jeopardy." In a retort to the address made by President Ahmadinejad, Ms. Clinton said, "Iran will do whatever it can to attempt to evade accountability." The U.S. secretary of state also made it clear that the United States is poised to pursue the Iran issue vigorously, saying, "We need to consider automatic penalties for violations in which nations do not comply with inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency."
Other addresses made by government representatives at the review conference included Indonesia, which declared that it will alter its policy of following the United States with regard to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and will instead pursue ratification procedures soon. The addresses by state representatives will continue for three days. On May 4, representatives from 41 nations and organizations, including Tetsuro Fukuyama, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, are scheduled to deliver speeches.
At the U.N. Headquarters building, an A-bomb exhibition organized by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations opened on May 3 as well. At the opening ceremony, Sunao Tsuboi, co-chairperson of the confederation, said, "I hope that people in the world will understand the inhumanity of the atomic bombings. No matter what happens, the A-bomb survivors will never abandon our commitment to creating a world without nuclear weapons."
(Originally published on May 5, 2010)
On May 3, following the opening ceremony, addresses by government representatives of the member nations began at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference held at United Nations Headquarters. With accusations traded between Iran, which has been criticized for its suspected nuclear weapons development, and the United States, which is seeking additional sanctions against Iran, the conference opened on a contentious note.
When Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stepped to the podium, some nations, including the United States, walked out of the venue for the duration of his address. Mr. Ahmadinejad denounced the United States and the de facto nuclear weapon state of Israel, declaring that the possession of nuclear weapons is disgraceful and dishonorable. The Iranian president also emphasized the inequality of the NPT regime, arguing that the system imposes pressure on non-nuclear weapon states, but that the nuclear weapon states are not affected by its provisions.
With Iran's uranium enrichment in mind, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remarked: "Iran placed the future of the nonproliferation regime in jeopardy." In a retort to the address made by President Ahmadinejad, Ms. Clinton said, "Iran will do whatever it can to attempt to evade accountability." The U.S. secretary of state also made it clear that the United States is poised to pursue the Iran issue vigorously, saying, "We need to consider automatic penalties for violations in which nations do not comply with inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency."
Other addresses made by government representatives at the review conference included Indonesia, which declared that it will alter its policy of following the United States with regard to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and will instead pursue ratification procedures soon. The addresses by state representatives will continue for three days. On May 4, representatives from 41 nations and organizations, including Tetsuro Fukuyama, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, are scheduled to deliver speeches.
At the U.N. Headquarters building, an A-bomb exhibition organized by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations opened on May 3 as well. At the opening ceremony, Sunao Tsuboi, co-chairperson of the confederation, said, "I hope that people in the world will understand the inhumanity of the atomic bombings. No matter what happens, the A-bomb survivors will never abandon our commitment to creating a world without nuclear weapons."
(Originally published on May 5, 2010)
