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2000 NPT Review Conference
Achieves an "Historic Consensus"
Fact Sheet Released by the Bureau of Nonproliferation
U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, July 1, 2000
Setting: The 1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is one of the most successful arms control agreements in history. With 187 parties, it is nearly universal; only Cuba, India, Israel, and Pakistan remain outside. It has restrained nuclear proliferation by establishing an international legal barrier to the acquisition of nuclear weapons and by authorizing inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The NPT is reviewed every 5 years. In the opening U.S. statement to the 2000 NPT Review Conference (New York, April 24-May 19), Secretary of State Albright noted the NPT's accomplishments and said "any fair reading of the record will affirm the [NPT] is doing its job."[end of file]Yet there were widespread predictions that the Review Conference would fail and that the NPT itself might be in jeopardy. There was concern over India's and Pakistan's 1998 nuclear tests, NPT violations by Iraq and North Korea, and criticism by Arab states of Israel's unsafeguarded nuclear program. Many believed that NPT nuclear weapons (U.S., U.K., Russian, France, China) were not doing enough to reduce their stockpiles. The United States had been faulted for the Senate's failure to approve the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the stalled START process, and for U.S. policy on national missile defense. Amid such wide-ranging views, it was not clear how NPT parties could reach common ground.
Outcome: The pundits were wrong. While the concerns noted above were raised, NPT parties reaffirmed the important security value of the Treaty in national statements and during committee deliberations. Surprisingly, the 155 participating nations were also able to adopt by consensus a substantive Final Document that reviews implementation of the NPT over the past 5 years and establishes a program of action for the future. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called this outcome an "historic consensus." This is only the third of six NPT Review Conferences to achieve such a Final Document or Declaration and the first to do so since 1985.
Conclusions of the Conference: While difficult to summarize, here briefly are a few of the conclusions in the Final Document:
- The NPT continues to play a vital role in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
- Universal NPT adherence is an important goal; Cuba, India, Israel, and Pakistan were urged to join. Strict compliance with the NPT is essential; Iraq and North Korea were urged to honor their obligations. The 1995 Middle East resolution was reaffirmed.
- India and Pakistan should not be accorded the status nuclear weapon state under the NPT or any special status whatsoever as a result of the 1998 nuclear tests. They were urged to meet the measures set forth in UN Security Council Resolution 1172 (June 1998).
- IAEA safeguards play an indispensable role in nuclear nonproliferation and peaceful nuclear commerce. All states need to adopt the safeguards required by the NPT and new Protocols to strengthen safeguards. Efforts to strengthen safeguards should continue.
- Nuclear Export Controls should take into account advances in technology and procurement practices. Controls and dual-use items were endorsed, as was the requirement for comprehensive IAEA safeguards as a condition of nuclear supply.
- Further steps on nuclear disarmament were identified, with emphasis on entry-into-force of the CTBT, the immediate commencement of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty, further U.S.-Russia nuclear reductions under the START process, and preserving and strengthening the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
- Measures on the transparency and irreversibility of nuclear reductions were supported, as was the deactivation of nuclear forces where such steps promote stability. The five nuclear weapons states reaffirmed unequivocally their commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons leading to nuclear disarmament to which all states are committed under Article VI.
- On the preparatory process for the 2005 NPT Review Conference, the drafting of substantive recommendations should be deferred until the 2004 session of the Preparatory Committee, with the first two sessions (2002, 2003) limited to preparing a factual summary of the debate.
Dynamics: Algeria's Ambassador to the United Nations, Abdallah Baali, was elected President of the Conference. The Conference consisted of a first week of general debate with many Foreign Ministers in attendance, followed by 2 weeks of intensive discussions and negotiations in three Main Committees that were drafting the Final Document. Committee leaders explored ways to bridge differences. Small groups held consultations. In addition to the other nuclear weapons states, the United States met regularly with its NATO allies, Japan, Australia, and many other key states including the New Agenda Coalition (Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden) in the search for agreement. Much progress was made, but achieving total consensus seemed beyond reach at the start of the fourth and final week. Finally, after many hours of discussion and late night meetings, the participants reached a tentative understanding on nuclear disarmament issues. This unexpected development put the Conference within reach of an overall consensus. After an all night session on May 19 (the last scheduled day of the Conference) and a significant portion of May 20, a solution was found to the other remaining key issue -- addressing Iraq's noncompliance.
Conclusion: NPT parties crafted an important consensus document that offers a balanced review of the past and a reasonable guide for the future. The participants at the 2000 NPT Review Conference conducted their work in the best spirit of cooperation, compromise, and consensus. Working together, they can continue to help build a world that is safer and more secure for all peoples.