Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference Laurie Brereton - Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs

Media Statement - 2 May 2000

The Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Laurie Brereton, today noted the joint declaration of the world's five original nuclear weapon states at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York pledging themselves to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.

"Yesterday's joint declaration by the nuclear weapons states is welcome, but it falls far short of the substantive commitments required to advance nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation", Mr Brereton said in Jakarta.

Yesterday the NPT Review Conference delegations of China, France and Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States issued a joint statement which inter alia stated their 'unequivocal commitment to the ultimate goals of a complete elimination of nuclear weapons and a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control'.

"While agreement on a joint statement by the five nuclear weapons states is noteworthy", Mr Brereton said, "this appears more a defensive reaction to international criticism of their failure to advance nuclear disarmament rather than a program for substantive progress in the future."

"The significance of the joint statement is further diminished by the disclosure in the authoritative Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists last week of leaked draft United States proposals for amendment of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty which affirmed an intention for the United States and Russia to 'possess under the terms of any possible future arms reduction agreements, large, diversified, viable arsenals of strategic offensive weapons consisting of various types of ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and heavy bombers.' These extensive nuclear forces are to be retained 'over the next decade and thereafter'."

"Coupled with the reaffirmation of the nuclear weapons doctrines of all nuclear weapons states, these revelations confirm the widespread suspicion that those countries which presently possess nuclear weapons remain committed to indefinite possession. As far as the United States and Russia are concerned, the clear implication is that a possible START III arms reduction agreement is seen as the end of the line for nuclear disarmament."

"Significantly the leaked US document effectively embraces Russia's policy of keeping its strategic nuclear arsenal on constant alert to allow launch on warning. In spite of the obvious dangers of keeping nuclear arsenals on hair-trigger alert, yesterday's joint statement fails to give a clear commitment to de-alert strategic nuclear arsenals and separate nuclear warheads from delivery vehicles."

"The nuclear weapon states will have to do much more than yesterday's joint statement if they are to demonstrate a commitment to their obligations under Article VI of the NPT and pursue nuclear disarmament and the objective of a nuclear weapon free world. This must be made absolutely clear by

Australia at the NPT Review Conference. Regrettably, if Foreign Minister Downer's embarrassing contribution at the Conference last week is any guide, Australia will remain on the sidelines and an apologist for the nuclear weapon states."

Authorised by Geoff Walsh, 19 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600.

