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     2.2.2.3. Fissile Material A treaty to ban the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices represents a logical follow-on to the CTBT and an important priority. In 1995, the Conference on Disarmament agreed to establish an ad hoc committee with a mandate to negotiate such a treaty. The Committee was convened for the first time in 1998, but no substantial negotiations have taken place, and since then the Committee has not been reconvened. The NPT 2000 Review Conference Final Document urged the CD to agree on a programme of work which includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclusion within five years. The Allies view the lack of progress on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) with growing concern. For two years now, the CD - the only permanent forum of negotiation in the disarmament world - has not been able to adopt a work programme or commence work on any new disarmament issue, even after the successful conclusion of the NPT Review Conference in May 2000. We will continue our efforts with other members of the Conference to address both substantive and procedural issues in order to ensure that negotiations on the FMCT can resume expeditiously.