PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR 2000 REVIEW CONFERENCE OF NPT TO MEET AT HEADQUARTERS 10-21 MAY
Press Release
DC/2644
PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR 2000 REVIEW CONFERENCE OF NPT TO MEET AT HEADQUARTERS 10-21 MAY
19990505 Background Release NEW YORK, 5 May (Department of Disarmament Affairs) -- The third session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), is scheduled to take place in New York from 10 to 21 May 1999. Camilo Reyes Rodriguez of Colombia is Chairman-designate of the third session. Markku Reimaa of Finland and Eugeniusz Wyzner of Poland will serve as the Vice-Chairmen of the Committee. There are 187 States parties to the Treaty, with Brazil having acceded to the Treaty in September 1998.The preparatory process for the 2000 NPT Review Conference commenced in April 1997, in accordance with the decision on the strengthened review process for the Treaty taken at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference. The first session of the Committee was held from 7 to 18 April 1997 in New York under the chairmanship of Pasi Patokallio of Finland. The Committee's second session was chaired by Mr. Wyzner of Poland and took place from 27 April to 8 May 1998 in Geneva.
At its forthcoming third session, the Committee is expected to finalize the preparations for the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT which is scheduled to be held from 24 April to 19 May 2000 in New York. It will continue its work based on the agenda adopted at the first session (NPT/CONF.2000/PC.I/32). The Committee's meetings will be devoted to a substantive consideration of all aspects of the Treaty in accordance with agenda item 4 entitled "Preparatory work for the review of the operation of the Treaty in accordance with article VIII, paragraph 3, taking into account the decisions and the resolution adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons". The issues to be addressed include: the universality of the Treaty; non-proliferation; nuclear disarmament; security assurances for parties to the NPT; International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards; establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones; peaceful uses of nuclear energy; and the resolution on the Middle East adopted in 1995.
The Committee will also continue its work on draft recommendations to the Review Conference. In doing so, it will take into account the proposals submitted by delegations during the first and second sessions, including the
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chairmen's working papers, as contained in documents NPT/CONF.2000/PC.1/32, annex and NPT/CONF.2000/PC.II/35.
In addition to its substantive work, the Preparatory Committee is expected to reach agreement on the remaining procedural issues related to the organization of the 2000 Review Conference. The work achieved by the Committee and recommendations made on the issues of its agenda will be reflected in its final report to the 2000 Review Conference.
In line with the decision reached during the Committee's first session, States not parties to the NPT, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations as well as non-governmental organizations will be allowed to attend the open meetings of the Committee as observers. Time will also be set aside for non-governmental organizations to make presentations to delegations.
The current review process began with the 11 May 1995 decision by the parties to the NPT, taken without a vote, that, as a majority existed among the States parties to the Treaty for its indefinite extension in accordance with article X, paragraph 2, the Treaty would continue in force indefinitely. Coupled with this decision, the States parties adopted decisions on strengthening the review process for the Treaty and on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, respectively, and a resolution on the Middle East.
By the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, the parties had agreed to continue to hold review conferences every five years and that, accordingly, the next Review Conference should be held in the year 2000. They also decided, beginning in 1997, to hold meetings of the Preparatory Committee in each of the three years prior to the Review Conference. According to the decision, the Preparatory Committee meetings are to "consider principles, objectives and ways in order to promote the full implementation of the Treaty, as well as its universality, and to make recommendations thereon to the Review Conference. These include those identified in the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The sessions are also aimed at addressing organizational and procedural aspects of the Preparatory Committee and of the 2000 Review Conference itself".
There was also agreement that review conferences should look forward, as well as back. They should evaluate the results of the period they are reviewing, including the implementation of undertakings of the States parties under the Treaty, and identify the areas in which, and the means through which, further progress should be sought in the future. Review conferences should also address specifically what might be done to strengthen the implementation of the Treaty and to achieve its universality.
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