In May, 189 States will decide the direction for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) - a pact they joined over the past 35 years to block the spread of nuclear bombs. Most everyone agrees the Conference outcome is pivotal to the world's nuclear regime. Few agree on the right moves to assure an encouraging result.
George Bunn, one of the founding fathers of the NPT, takes us back in time to see how far we've gone since the Treaty's inception and how far we still have to go if the non-proliferation regime is to survive.
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What's needed is an even-handed and balanced approach by the NPT States to reviewing the operation of the treaty in order to help achieve its universal compliance. Retired Ambassador Roland Timerbaeve outlines six steps to assure orderly and accommodating Conference conduct.
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What's Blocking Nuclear Disarmament
Today we have the making of a dangerous gamble. Nuclear weapons States appear unwilling to implement their disarmament undertakings under the NPT's Article VI. At the same time, they insist that non-nuclear weapon States meticulously observe Articles II and III and that they adhere to new requirements. The gamble is that all this is happening with out nuclear weapons States being ready to offer any quid pro quo.
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As international borders become more porous as a result of free-trade arrangements, opportunities for proliferators multiply as well. As Kate Walsh argues, existing non-proliferation tools are not up to the task of dealing with these and other new global economic realities. Read more »
Which Way Forward for Multilateral Approaches?
In June 2004, IAEA Director General ElBaradei appointed an international group of experts to consider possible multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle. Bruno Pellaud reports on the spectrum of options being considered. Read more »
The Verification Challenge
The Agency's safeguard system is a fundamental pillar of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. But as the NPT has evolved over the years, so has the Agency's response to verification challenges. Read more »
