Brazil Calls On Atomic-Weapon
States To Disarm
UNITED NATIONS - Brazilian Foreign Minister
Celso Amorim on Monday called on
nuclear-weapon states to work towards the
total elimination of atomic weapons to
rectify the " intrinsically unfair" nature
of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"Nuclear disarmament requires comprehensive
and verifiable steps, as well as a precise
and realistic timetable," Amorim said at the
2010 Review Conference, which began here at
the United Nations on Monday. "It is the
belief that nuclear weapons will be
eliminated in a foreseeable future that
offers us the ultimate guarantee against
nuclear proliferation."
The 40-year old Treaty is founded on the
ultimate bargain between the haves and
have-nots: Nuclear-weapons states agree to
eliminate their arsenals, non-nuclear
weapons states promise not to acquire such
weapons and all parties to the Treaty are
guaranteed the right to peacefully use
nuclear energy so long as obligations are
met.
The NPT does not outright call for the U.S.,
Russia, Britain, France, and China to
eliminate their nuclear arms but Article VI
of the Treaty obliges nuclear-weapon states
to conduct negotiations on such matters in
"good faith."
"Unfair as it is, the NPT contains in
Article VI the seed of its own
self-correction," Amorim said. "Failure to
implement Article VI, however, perpetuates a
destructive imbalance."
Amorim cautioned against preventing NPT
parties from exercising their right to
peaceful nuclear activities as long as they
comply with requirements set forth in the
NPT and by the UN atomic watchdog, the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Doubts about compliance and implementation
of the Treaty should be dealt with through
dialogue and negotiations, he said,
referring to the Iranian nuclear issue.
In a brief statement last month about
separate bilateral meetings with Chinese and
Indian leaders, Amorim said that based on
past experiences and on Iran's particular
situation, "sanctions not only are
inefficient but in some cases can be
counterproductive." |
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