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Nuclear weapon states touch on Middle East Resolution

by Yumi Kanazaki, Staff Writer, dispatched from New York

The five nuclear weapon states pledged to take further steps for nuclear disarmament in a joint statement issued at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference on May 5.

The five nations -- the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China -- also touched on efforts to fulfill the Middle East Resolution, which indicated their intention to lessen the dissatisfaction felt by non-aligned countries and fashion a successful conference. However, judging from the addresses delivered by state delegates, 80 percent of which were completed by May 5, the gap between the nuclear-haves and have-nots still looms large.

The Middle East Resolution, which is aimed at making the Middle East a region free of nuclear weapons, was adopted at the 1995 NPT Review Conference, along with the decision to indefinitely extend the NPT. The Middle East Resolution was motivated by the dissatisfaction of Arab nations over the de facto possession of nuclear weapons by Israel. However, no progress on this resolution has been made during the past 15 years, and frustration over this fact has boiled over among the non-aligned nations, particularly Arab nations countries. In its address at the conference, the Egyptian representative argued that the Middle East Resolution should be considered concurrently with the indefinite extension of the NPT.

The statement by the nuclear powers is a response to this frustration and hints at their hope to receive support from the non-aligned countries with regard to Iran's nuclear program by promising the denuclearization of the Middle East.

On May 5, the review conference agreed to establish subcommittees under each of the three major committees, set to discuss the three main pillars of the treaty next week. The subcommittees will confer on regional issues, including the fulfillment of the Middle East Resolution, as well as issues involving withdrawal from the NPT.

According to a U.N. source, Libran Cabactulan, the president of the conference, has reportedly been able to persuade Iran to drop its opposition to taking up the issue of withdrawal from the NPT. The ground for substantive discussion is being prepared.

At the same time, it is difficult to see how a breakthrough can be forged with regard to Israel, which is a non-signatory of the NPT. In the current climate, where the United States and Iran are at loggerheads, the concern that the conference may devolve into deadlock still remains.

The fact that the addresses made by representatives of the nuclear weapon states have been unpersuasive is a key factor in the current uncertainty over the prospects for the conference.

Russia pointed to the success of concluding the new arms control treaty with the United States, one of the few achievements made by Russia. France also stressed past achievements, including its ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). China, which has not shown a willingness to ratify the CTBT, mentioned its support for the pact.

The United Kingdom will not deliver a speech at the conference as a general election is now being held in that nation. Though the United States revealed the number of stockpiled nuclear warheads that it holds on the eve of the conference, not a few countries view this action as "excuse" for making little headway in nuclear disarmament.

(Originally published on May 7, 2010)

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