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Updated: 21-Aug-2001 NATO Publications

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Chapter 6: The Alliance's Role in Arms Control
Developments relating to nuclear, biological and chemical weapons
  The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

For many years, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has been the cornerstone of international agreements on global non-proliferation and of the process of bringing about nuclear disarmament. The Treaty was extended indefinitely at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference. It was also decided to strengthen the review process and to adopt a set of "Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament" in order to promote effective implementation of the Treaty.

At the 2000 NPT Review Conference held in New York between 24 April and 19 May 2000, a comprehensive, substantive final document was adopted. Its conclusions reflect continued support for universal NPT adherence, strict compliance with the NPT's provisions, strengthened International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, and future steps toward nuclear disarmament.

One of the most significant practical achievements of the Review Conference was agreement on the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), as soon as the required ratifications have been completed. NATO member countries are committed to working to secure the necessary signatures and ratification in order to achieve an early entry into force of the Treaty. The Review Conference also emphasised the importance of making progress towards a treaty to ban the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices and called for negotiations on this subject in the framework of the Conference on Disarmament to be resumed.

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