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Vienna conference closes: No path to nuclear abolition laid out

Chair’s summary refers to both ban and step-by-step approach to disarmament: Hope for progress by 70th anniversary of A-bombings

by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer

VIENNA—The third Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons came to an end here on the evening of December 9. Sponsored by the government of Austria, the two-day conference concluded with the presentation of the chair’s summary of the two days of discussions. While strongly urging the total elimination of nuclear weapons, the summary referred to both the outlawing of nuclear weapons, the solution sought by non-nuclear nations, and a step-by-step approach, which the nuclear powers say would be effective. No clear path to nuclear abolition was laid out.

In his chair’s summary, Sebastian Kurz, Austria’s Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, warned, “There are many circumstances in which nuclear weapons could be used in view of international conflicts and tensions.” He also stated, “As nuclear deterrence entails preparing for nuclear war, the risk of nuclear weapon use is real.”

The majority of participating countries stressed that they supported the abolition of nuclear weapons through a nuclear weapons convention or other legal framework. On the other hand, based on statements by the United States and the United Kingdom, the first of the five nuclear powers to participate in the conference, the chairman said, “A number of delegations argued that a step-by-step approach was the most effective and practical way to achieve nuclear disarmament.” He cited the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and other examples.

He also referred to next year’s 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and said that “calls for nuclear disarmament in this connection have been palpable and poignant.” The review conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) is scheduled to be held next April and May at United Nations headquarters in New York. In this regard the chairman said, “It was recognized that the obligation to pursue effective measures for nuclear disarmament, as expressed in Article VI of the NPT, resides with each State Party, and that there are practical steps that States can take now to pursue such measures in good faith.”

A total of 158 countries participated in the international conference, the highest number so far. Representatives of about 100 countries and organizations spoke during the general debate on the second day. The envoy of the government of South Africa exhibited a positive attitude toward holding the next conference there. The location and dates are expected to be officially decided after the NPT review conference.

The following are some of the points made in the chair’s summary:

・There are many circumstances in which nuclear weapons could be used in view of international conflicts and tensions.

・As nuclear deterrence entails preparing for nuclear war, the risk of nuclear weapon use is real.

・Many delegations stressed the need for security for all and underscored that the only way to guarantee this security is through the total elimination of nuclear weapons and their prohibition. They expressed support for the negotiation of a new legal instrument prohibiting nuclear weapons constituting an effective measure towards nuclear disarmament, as required also by the NPT.

・A number of delegations argued that a step-by-step approach was the most effective and practical way to achieve nuclear disarmament… These delegations also noted that the global security environment needs to be taken into consideration in discussions about nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament.

(Originally published on December 11, 2014)

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