PRESS RELEASE M-NAC-1(94)45       9 June 1994


            ALLIANCE POLICY FRAMEWORK
 ON PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

        Issued at the Ministerial Meeting of the
      North Atlantic Council held in Istanbul, Turkey
                    on 9 June 1994


The Proliferation Challenge

     1.   The statement of the UN Security Council on   
31st January 1992 affirmed that proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction (WMD) constituted a threat
to international peace and security.  The Alliance's
Strategic Concept, adopted by NATO Heads of State and
Government at the Rome Summit in November 1991, had
identified proliferation of WMD and ballistic missiles
a problem requiring special consideration.  Heads of
State and Government of NATO countries at the 1994
Brussels Summit stressed that proliferation of WMD and
their delivery means poses a threat to international
security and is a matter of concern to the Alliance. 
Furthermore, they directed NATO to develop a policy
framework to consider how to reinforce ongoing
prevention efforts and how to reduce the proliferation
threat and protect against it.  

     2.   The Summit initiative reflects the fact that
there are developments in the evolving security
environment that give rise to the possibility of
increased WMD proliferation.  These include the
following:

     -    some States (e.g., Iraq, North Korea) have
          not complied with, and even wilfully
          disregarded their international non-
          proliferation commitments, in particular
          those stemming from NPT membership;

     -    major political changes on the European
          continent following the break-up of the
          former Soviet Union have potential
          proliferation implications that require close
          attention;

     -    a number of States on the periphery of the
          Alliance continue in their attempts to
          develop or acquire the capability to produce
          WMD and their delivery means or to acquire
          illegally such systems;

     -    non-State actors, such as terrorists, may
          also try to acquire WMD capabilities;

     -    ever-increasing trade in today's world
          economy, including transfers of dual-use
          commodities, is leading to greater diffusion
          of technology, which complicates efforts to
          detect and prevent transfers of materials and
          technology for the purpose of developing WMD
          and their delivery means;

     -    similarly, the growth of indigenously
          developed WMD-related technology has also
          made proliferation more difficult to control;

     -    in addition, there is the risk that a
          proliferator might seek to profit or gain
          political benefit by selling WMD and their
          delivery means, relevant technology and
          expertise.  Such a trade could result in
          Allies being threatened by an adversary that
          obtained WMD capabilities developed in areas
          beyond NATO's periphery.

     3.   Current international efforts focus on the
prevention of WMD and missile proliferation through a
range of international treaties and regimes.  The most
important norm- setting treaties are the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Chemical Weapons
Convention (CWC) and the Biological and Toxin Weapons
Convention (BTWC).  With regard to the NPT, efforts are
currently focussed on unconditional and indefinite
extension of the Treaty in 1995, universal adherence to
the Treaty and enhancing its verification and
safeguards regime.  For the CWC, the most immediate
goal is its rapid entry into force.  The BTWC can be
strengthened through efforts in the field of
transparency and verification.  The Allies fully
support these efforts.  

     4.   The aforementioned treaties are complemented
on the supply side by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the
Zangger Committee, the Australia Group and the Missile
Technology Control Regime.  These regimes should be
reinforced through the broadest possible adherence to
them and enhancement of their effectiveness.

     5.   The Allies furthermore support other relevant
efforts in the field of non-proliferation and arms
control, such as the negotiation of a universal and
verifiable Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the
negotiation of a possible Convention banning the
production of fissile material for nuclear explosive
purposes. 

     6.   The Alliance policy on proliferation is aimed
at supporting, reinforcing and complementing, not at
duplicating or substituting the aforementioned treaties
and regimes.

NATO's Role

     7.   In accordance with the Strategic Concept,
NATO's role is not only to defend its members'
territory but also to provide one of the indispensable
foundations for a stable security environment in
Europe.  The Alliance also serves as a transatlantic
forum for Allied consultations on any issues that
affect their vital interests, including possible
developments posing risks for members' security, and
for appropriate coordination of their efforts in fields
of common concern.  

     8.   A stable international order with a broad
base of shared values is key to Allied security.  WMD
proliferation can undermine the achievement of such a
stable international order.  Conversely, lack of
confidence in the international order can prompt States
to acquire WMD to meet perceived threats.

     9.   WMD and their delivery means can pose a
direct military risk to the member States of the
Alliance and to their forces. 

     10.  NATO's approach to proliferation will
therefore have both a political and a defence
dimension.

The Political Dimension

     11.  The principal non-proliferation goal of the
Alliance and its members is to prevent proliferation
from occuring or, should it occur, to reverse it
through diplomatic means.  In this regard, NATO seeks
to support, without duplicating, work already underway
in other international fora and institutions. 
Accordingly, and in keeping with NATO's role as a
transatlantic forum for consultation, Allies will:

     -    assess the potential proliferation risk
          presented by States on NATO's periphery, as
          well as relevant developments in areas beyond
          NATO's periphery;

     -    consult regularly on WMD proliferation
          threats and related issues and coordinate
          current Alliance activities that involve
          aspects of WMD proliferation issues; 

     -    examine whether there are ways to contribute,
          through diplomatic or technical measures, to
          the implementation and strengthening of
          international arms control, disarmament and
          non-proliferation norms and agreements.  In
          particular, Allies will:

          -    support efforts to broaden participation
               in international non-proliferation fora
               and activities;

          -    continue to share information on their
               various efforts to support the safe and
               secure dismantlement of nuclear weapons
               in the former Soviet Union;

          -    consider relevant initiatives that
               Allies might undertake to support non-
               proliferation objectives;

     -    consult within the NACC framework with NACC
          and PfP Partners with the aim of fostering a
          common understanding of, and approach to the
          WMD proliferation problem, taking into
          account efforts in this field in other fora,
          in particular the different export control
          groups.

The Defence Dimension

     12.  Recent events in Iraq and North Korea have
demonstrated that WMD proliferation can occur despite
international non-proliferation norms and agreements. 
As a defensive Alliance, NATO must therefore address
the military capabilities needed to discourage WMD
proliferation and use, and if necessary, to protect
NATO territory, populations and forces.

     13.  NATO will therefore:

     -    examine in detail the current and potential
          threat to Allies posed by WMD proliferation,
          taking into consideration major
          military/technological developments;

     -    examine the implications of proliferation for
          defence planning and defence capabilities of
          NATO and its members, and consider what new
          measures may be required in the defence area;

     -    seek, if necessary, to improve defence
          capabilities of NATO and its members to
          protect NATO territory, populations and
          forces against WMD use, based on assessments
          of threats (including non-State actors),
          Allied military doctrine and planning, and
          Allied military capabilities;

     -    consider how its defence posture can support
          or might otherwise influence diplomatic
          efforts to prevent proliferation before it
          becomes a threat or to reverse it.


                           *  *  *  *  * 


     14.  This Policy Framework will be kept under
review in order to reflect developments in the
proliferation field and the evolution of non-
proliferation policies.