Second Preparatory Committee for NPT Review Conference opens
Apr. 30, 2013
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
GENEVA--The Second Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference opened on April 22 at the European Headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Against the backdrop of thorny problems involving the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran, about 190 member nations will discuss issues involving nuclear arms reduction and non-proliferation as they address the action plan compiled at the 2010 Review Conference, which seeks “a world without nuclear weapons.” The committee will be in session until May 3.
Cornel Feruta, political director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, is serving as chair. In his opening remarks, Mr. Feruta called on the participants to engage in constructive discussion and cultivate mutual understanding.
In her address, Angela Kane, U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, criticized North Korea for its withdrawal from the NPT in 2003 and the provocative actions it has pursued in connection with its nuclear and missile development programs. She advised the international community to respond. Following Ms. Kane’s words, the participants entered into a general discussion.
A joint statement is expected to be issued on April 23 by countries that hope to highlight the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and seek to make them illegal under international law. Japan is being encouraged to back the statement, but some in the Japanese government have voiced concern about the statement’s potential impact on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Eyes will be on Japan’s posture toward the statement.
Kazumi Matsui, the mayor of Hiroshima, is attending the gathering as president of Mayors for Peace. After observing the discussion, Mr. Matsui commented, “I would like to convey Hiroshima’s wish that the absolute evil of nuclear weapons be eliminated from the earth.” On April 24, Mr. Matsui will deliver a speech in a meeting of non-governmental organizations, one of the official functions of the preparatory committee, and hold talks with ambassadors for disarmament from different countries.
In total, three sessions of the preparatory committee will be held in advance of the 2015 NPT Review Conference. The last of the three sessions will be held in New York in 2014.
(Originally published on April 23, 2013)
GENEVA--The Second Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference opened on April 22 at the European Headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Against the backdrop of thorny problems involving the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran, about 190 member nations will discuss issues involving nuclear arms reduction and non-proliferation as they address the action plan compiled at the 2010 Review Conference, which seeks “a world without nuclear weapons.” The committee will be in session until May 3.
Cornel Feruta, political director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, is serving as chair. In his opening remarks, Mr. Feruta called on the participants to engage in constructive discussion and cultivate mutual understanding.
In her address, Angela Kane, U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, criticized North Korea for its withdrawal from the NPT in 2003 and the provocative actions it has pursued in connection with its nuclear and missile development programs. She advised the international community to respond. Following Ms. Kane’s words, the participants entered into a general discussion.
A joint statement is expected to be issued on April 23 by countries that hope to highlight the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and seek to make them illegal under international law. Japan is being encouraged to back the statement, but some in the Japanese government have voiced concern about the statement’s potential impact on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Eyes will be on Japan’s posture toward the statement.
Kazumi Matsui, the mayor of Hiroshima, is attending the gathering as president of Mayors for Peace. After observing the discussion, Mr. Matsui commented, “I would like to convey Hiroshima’s wish that the absolute evil of nuclear weapons be eliminated from the earth.” On April 24, Mr. Matsui will deliver a speech in a meeting of non-governmental organizations, one of the official functions of the preparatory committee, and hold talks with ambassadors for disarmament from different countries.
In total, three sessions of the preparatory committee will be held in advance of the 2015 NPT Review Conference. The last of the three sessions will be held in New York in 2014.
(Originally published on April 23, 2013)
