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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">May 2, 2005 (<i>7:00 p.m. EDT</i>)</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">No. 77</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">CANADA PARTICIPATES IN REVIEW OF </span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">TREATY ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS </span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew welcomed the opening today of the Review
Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the most
effective international instrument for achieving Canada's fundamental objectives of
nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and to ensure the peaceful uses of nuclear
energy. James R. Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister for International Security and
Political Director, will deliver Canada's opening statement to this conference, which
continues until May 27 in New York.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">"Strengthening the NPT and related treaties and agreements is crucial to the security of
Canada and all countries," said Minister Pettigrew. "Our objective is to achieve a
positive outcome to the Conference that realizes concrete non-proliferation and
disarmament commitments by all states parties."</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">This review conference provides a vital opportunity to reinforce the treaty's authority
and respond to the serious challenges that have arisen since 2000. For the NPT to
make its intended contribution to international security, Canada expects the review
conference to agree to measures that will enhance this crucial multilateral legal
instrument.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">The NPT, which entered into force on March 5, 1970, represents a three-part
agreement among its 188 states members: non-nuclear-weapon states undertake not
to develop nuclear weapons; the five nuclear-weapon states commit to nuclear
disarmament; while all parties have the right to develop and use nuclear technology for
peaceful purposes and to facilitate the fullest possible exchange. In 1995 and 2000,
states attending NPT review conferences agreed on steps to advance nuclear
disarmament in practical ways, strengthened non-proliferation standards and addressed
regional challenges.</span></p>
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<br>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Canada's strategy for the review conference, convened by states parties to the treaty
once every five years, is outlined in an overview paper that can be found at
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221190019/http://www.disarmament.gc.ca/arms/nptoverview-en.asp."><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.disarmament.gc.ca/arms/nptoverview-en.asp.</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">-30-</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221190019/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span></p>
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