Interview with Alexander Kmentt, Director for Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
May 9, 2014
International conference to be held in Austria in December to raise awareness of nuclear risks
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
New York — The third session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for next year’s Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is being held in New York, and at this PrepCom, too, there is a conspicuous gap between the nations that emphasize the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and call for banning them and the countries that advocate a step-by-step approach to reducing nuclear arms. The Chugoku Shimbun interviewed Alexander Kmentt, Director for Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, and asked him the purpose of the third International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, scheduled to take place on December 8 and 9 in Vienna, Austria.
Why is so much effort being put into the International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons?
Nuclear weapons are the most destructive weapons ever created in history. As long as they exist, we cannot ensure human security. The nuclear weapon states are not fulfilling their obligations to pursue nuclear disarmament. To the contrary, they are developing more sophisticated weapons, as if they want to hold nuclear weapons forever. We must raise awareness that nuclear abolition is a pressing issue and build momentum for nuclear disarmament, which Austria wants to support with like-minded nations.
The nations that rely on nuclear weapons are cautious about the debate on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, as this could lead to banning them.
They don’t need to be cautious. There are many ways to achieve nuclear abolition, such as concluding a nuclear weapons convention, banning existing nuclear weapons, and step-by-step nuclear disarmament. We understand that nuclear weapons are connected to the security policies of some states. Which path we should take has yet to be discussed.
The second International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, held in Mexico in February, issued a Chair’s summary which urged outlawing nuclear weapons through legally-binding international norms.
We do not intend to focus on specific legal measures at the next conference. It is important to strengthen people’s resolve to make progress for nuclear disarmament. Based on the facts, we would like to raise people’s awareness of the risks of nuclear weapons and of the urgency of this matter.
What do you expect from Japan?
We would like to have participants from all nations, including nuclear experts, legislators, and civil society. As the Japanese government frequently contacts us, I understand that Japan is very interested in the conference. At the conference in Mexico, I was moved by the testimonies from A-bomb survivors. Their perspective left us convinced that the use of nuclear weapons is a sin. We definitely would like them to come to Vienna, too.
(Originally published on May 4, 2014)
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
New York — The third session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for next year’s Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is being held in New York, and at this PrepCom, too, there is a conspicuous gap between the nations that emphasize the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and call for banning them and the countries that advocate a step-by-step approach to reducing nuclear arms. The Chugoku Shimbun interviewed Alexander Kmentt, Director for Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, and asked him the purpose of the third International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, scheduled to take place on December 8 and 9 in Vienna, Austria.
Why is so much effort being put into the International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons?
Nuclear weapons are the most destructive weapons ever created in history. As long as they exist, we cannot ensure human security. The nuclear weapon states are not fulfilling their obligations to pursue nuclear disarmament. To the contrary, they are developing more sophisticated weapons, as if they want to hold nuclear weapons forever. We must raise awareness that nuclear abolition is a pressing issue and build momentum for nuclear disarmament, which Austria wants to support with like-minded nations.
The nations that rely on nuclear weapons are cautious about the debate on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, as this could lead to banning them.
They don’t need to be cautious. There are many ways to achieve nuclear abolition, such as concluding a nuclear weapons convention, banning existing nuclear weapons, and step-by-step nuclear disarmament. We understand that nuclear weapons are connected to the security policies of some states. Which path we should take has yet to be discussed.
The second International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, held in Mexico in February, issued a Chair’s summary which urged outlawing nuclear weapons through legally-binding international norms.
We do not intend to focus on specific legal measures at the next conference. It is important to strengthen people’s resolve to make progress for nuclear disarmament. Based on the facts, we would like to raise people’s awareness of the risks of nuclear weapons and of the urgency of this matter.
What do you expect from Japan?
We would like to have participants from all nations, including nuclear experts, legislators, and civil society. As the Japanese government frequently contacts us, I understand that Japan is very interested in the conference. At the conference in Mexico, I was moved by the testimonies from A-bomb survivors. Their perspective left us convinced that the use of nuclear weapons is a sin. We definitely would like them to come to Vienna, too.
(Originally published on May 4, 2014)
