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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">May 27 <i>(5:25 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 96</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">MINISTER PETTIGREW CALLS FOR RENEWED EFFORTS ON
DISARMAMENT AND NON-PROLIFERATION FOLLOWING NPT
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt">REVIEW CONFERENCE </span></span></p>
<br>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today expressed regret at the failure of the
2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to deliver concrete commitments on nuclear non-proliferation
and disarmament. He called on the international community to address these issues
with renewed vigour in other forums. </p>
<br>
<p>The conference was held in New York from May 3 to 27. Due to sustained procedural
delays and an inability to find common ground for negotiation, NPT states parties were
unable to agree on an outcome that would advance work on the core pillars of the
treaty: non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.</p>
<br>
<p>“Canada’s objective remains to strengthen the authority and integrity of the treaty,” said
Minister Pettigrew. “Canada will redouble its efforts with partners from all regions to
address the non-proliferation and disarmament challenges that confront the
international community. The solutions to these challenges are known. What is needed
is concerted political will at the highest level to implement them. In this respect, the
United Nations summit to be held in September provides a unique opportunity.”</p>
<br>
<p>Key measures that should be taken to enhance the disarmament and non-proliferation
norms and peaceful use goals embodied in the NPT include:</p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in">• <span>        </span>resolving the impasse in the Conference on Disarmament in order to allow
negotiation of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear
weapons and consideration of other key disarmament issues;</p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in">• <span>        </span>achieving the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;</p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in">• <span>        </span>promoting universal acceptance of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s
comprehensive safeguards and its additional safeguards protocol as the
standard for ensuring that the peaceful uses of nuclear energy do not contribute
to the development of nuclear weapons; and</p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in">• <span>        </span>strengthening national export controls on nuclear technologies and international
cooperation on new approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle that reduce proliferation
risks. </p>
<br>
<p>Canada will continue to call on all NPT states parties to support and implement the
commitments agreed to at the 1995 and 2000 review conferences. It will also work to
promote institutional reforms that will empower NPT states parties to address crucial
non-proliferation and disarmament matters in a timely and focused manner.</p>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p>Canada’s statement to the closing session of the Review Conference can be found at
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221015404/http://www.disarmament.gc.ca/........]"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline"></span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221015404/http://www.disarmament.gc.ca/2005nptclosing-en.asp"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.disarmament.gc.ca/2005nptclosing-en.asp</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000">.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></p>
<br>
<br>
<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/20070221015404/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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