07 October 2008
Australia and Japan back the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament
The International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament is a joint initiative of the Australian and Japanese Governments. It aims to reinvigorate international efforts on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, in the context of both the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, and beyond.
The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan jointly announced the Commissioners of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament. The Commission will be co-chaired by the former Australian Foreign Minister, Gareth Evans and former Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi. The other Commissioners who will serve on the Commission will include former heads of state and ministers, military strategists and disarmament experts from Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Norway, South Africa, France, Pakistan, India, Germany, United States, China, United Kingdom and Mexico. An Eminent Advisory Board also includes former Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Han Sung-Joo, former US Secretaries of State, Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, and Chairman of the Japanese Atomic Energy Commission Shinseki Kondo among others.
The Commission has a two year mandate to achieve three key goals, firstly to reinvigorate the global debate on the need to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, secondly to encourage nuclear disarmament, and thirdly to strengthen a global consensus on the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), in the lead up to the treaty’s review in 2010.
Further goals include finding ways to bring non-NPT nuclear armed states into the global non-proliferation and disarmament system, and ensure the civil and peaceful uses of nuclear energy do not result in an increased risk of proliferation.
The NPT, first signed in 1968 is the most significant and successful mechanism for arms control, but is facing increased pressure and strain from the actions of countries that continue to develop nuclear weapons programs.
In the last decade, India and Pakistan have joined Israel as nuclear armed states outside the NPT. North Korea has withdrawn from the NPT and tested nuclear weapons. Iran has within the NPT conducted sensitive nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment and heavy water technologies. There has been a renewal of interest in using nuclear energy for electricity generation following concerns over climate change and energy security.
The first meeting of the Commission will be hosted by the Australian Government in Sydney from 19-21 October. For further information visit: www.icnnd.org