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NEWS RELEASES

May 21, 2000 (6:15 p.m. EDT) No. 115

AXWORTHY WELCOMES SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TO NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today welcomed the outcome of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, held in New York, April 24 to May 20. The Conference achieved new and renewed commitments between the nuclear weapons states -- the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia -- and non-nuclear states.

The Minister noted that Canada, as Chair of the Conference's Subsidiary Body 2 on regional issues, played a key role in obtaining consensus on language pertaining to the Middle East. This included, among other elements, reaffirmation of the importance of Israel's accession to the NPT, and of the importance of Iraq's full, continuous co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"I would like to thank the Canadian delegation, led by Ambassador Chris Westdal, for negotiating the last-minute consensus on the Middle East, which was essential to passing the final Conference document," said Mr. Axworthy.

Significant elements of the agreement reached in New York include an outline of progressive steps toward the full implementation of the NPT; an undertaking for the timely engagement by nuclear weapons states to totally eliminate their arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament; and an agreement on diminishing the role of nuclear weapons in security policies, thereby minimizing the risk of such weapons ever being used.

"The intense negotiations that took place toward the end of the Conference demonstrate that the nuclear weapons states have responded to the international community's demands for accountability," said Mr. Axworthy. "We now have affirmation that the ultimate objective of the NPT is complete nuclear disarmament. We have agreement on a reinforced, strengthened review process that will allow parties to consider events as they occur, rather than simply noting developments and having to raise issues at the next Review Conference."

Further commitments include the full implementation of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START II) and the prompt negotiation of START III; further efforts to reduce, unilaterally, nuclear arsenals; further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons; and concrete, agreed measures to reduce nuclear readiness.

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