NAM calls for indiscriminate implementation of NPT

During the recent informal consultations of Non-Aligned Movement member states with the chair-designate of the Second Preparatory Committee for the 2015 NPT Review Conference, Iran and other NAM members called for full, effective, and indiscriminate implementation of the articles of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The remarks were made by Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaee on behalf of NAM member states.

Iran assumed the rotating presidency of NAM for a three-year term on August 30.

Following are the main points made by Ambassador Khazaee at the meeting:

– Nuclear disarmament is the highest priority for NAM.

– Peaceful use of nuclear energy is very vital for our countries too.

– As a result of a grand bargain within the NPT, we agreed to say a loud and clear NO to nuclear weapons and a strong and loud YES to peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which means: nuclear weapons for no one, nuclear energy for all.

– We attach great importance to the NPT and its Review Process as a very useful tool to advance these goals.

– NPT Review Process should promote relevance, credibility, and universality of the NPT which is indeed impossible without full, effective, and indiscriminate implementation of all of its Articles.

– NPT Review Process should also enhance genuine and strong commitment by all parties to fully comply with their obligations under the Treaty.

– All provisions of the Treaty shall be treated equally and implemented fully and indiscriminately.

– During the Second NPT Preparatory Committee NAM will continue to attach high importance to nuclear disarmament.

– This year GA adopted a resolution on the initiative of the Movement, according to which a high level plenary of the GA will convene on September 26, 2013 on nuclear disarmament.

– The Islamic Republic of Iran intends to send a letter to all NAM countries to urge them to participate in the meeting at the highest level.

– We hope this issue will receive high attention during the second Preparatory Committee.

– Preparatory Committee should send a clear message that, as recently mentioned by the United Nations Secretary General, there is no right hand for these wrong weapons, and their total elimination is the only absolute guarantee against their threat.

– Another important issue during the second Preparatory Committee is the implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East.

– This Resolution is an essential element of a package deal based on which the Treaty was indefinitely extended without a vote in 1995.

– After a long delay, the 2010 NPT Review Conference decided to hold a conference in 2012 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.

– Conveners of the Conference did not fulfill their mandate to hold the Conference as scheduled, despite the explicit agreement of all countries in the region except Israel to participate in the Conference.

– NAM issued a statement strongly rejecting the alleged impediments presented by the Conveners for not convening the Conference on schedule, and warned against its negative repercussions on the relevance and credibility of the NPT and its 2015 Review process.

– NAM’s support for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East is its long-standing firm position.

– The Second Preparatory Committee should focus on addressing this
important issue and consider its serious ramifications on the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.