Press Release M-NAC- 2(2000)121 Report on Options for Confidence and Security Building Measures (CSBMs), Verification, Non-Prolife- ration, Arms Control and Disarmament December 2000

2. Developments over the Last Decade in the Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons Environment 2.2. Nuclear Weapons 2.2.1. Multilateral Developments     2.2.2.1. NPT The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. The Treaty was extended indefinitely at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference (NPTREC). The 1995 NPTREC also took decisions that strengthened the review process for the Treaty, and adopted a set of "Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament" to guide the full realization and effective implementation of the Treaty. Over the last decade the NPT has grown to be nearly universal in its membership, with only four states (Cuba, India, Israel and Pakistan) remaining outside the regime. Significant new parties have acceded to the Treaty, including two nuclear powers recognized by the Treaty, France and China, as well as South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Excluding Russia, all of the states of the former Soviet Union have renounced the possession of nuclear weapons and joined the NPT. Iraq and North Korea were each found to be in non-compliance with the NPT and efforts are continuing to bring them into compliance. In 1993 North Korea provided notice of its intention to withdraw from the NPT, but remains in the Treaty although still in violation of its NPT safeguards agreement. The Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests in 1998, which NATO Ministers condemned, were a blow to nuclear non-proliferation goals. Members of the Alliance continue to insist upon the full implementation of the NPT and the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions. The 2000 NPT Review Conference was held in New York between 24th April and 19th May 2000. The Conference was attended by 158 States-parties as well as by 11 international organizations and 141 non-governmental organizations. The 2000 Review Conference was able to adopt a comprehensive, substantive final document, an accomplishment matched by only two of five previous Review Conferences. The conclusions of the final document note 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, including an unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear weapon states to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under NPT Article VI, and the reaffirmation that the ultimate objective of the efforts of the states in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under effective international control.