5-06-05, 8:48 am
Appeal Calling for Concrete Efforts for Nuclear Disarmament on the Occasion of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference
From Akahat
The Committee of Seven for World Peace Appeal published the following statement entitled 'The 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty' (Translated by Japan Press Service):
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. There is still strong criticism of this treaty for its inequality in allowing the five nuclear-weapons states to maintain nuclear weapons while prohibiting other parties to the treaty from possessing such weapons. Not withstanding this, it is the only important international treaty for nuclear disarmament and about 190 nations have so far ratified the treaty.
With the 2005 NPT Review Conference scheduled for May, the Committee of Seven for World Peace Appeal has deep apprehension about the present state of affairs, which might make the treaty's promise 'to assure the total elimination of nuclear weapons' a dead letter.
The Committee of Seven for World Peace Appeal was founded in 1955 at a time when the nuclear arms race was intensiftying in response to the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, and called for peace to the world starting from Japan, where the first atomic bombs were dropped 60 years ago.
On the occasion of the NPT Review Conference in May, we request that the five nuclear-weapons states make sincere efforts to bring about substantial results for the abolition of nuclear weapons as follows:
1. Fulfill the international promise made in treaty negotiations
In May 1995, the five nuclear-weapon states reaffirmed their commitment, 'as stated in article VI, to pursue in good faith negotiations on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament' in the document 'Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament' adopted unanimously at the NPT Review Conference. Also, in the Review Conference in May 2000, they agreed on the final document, which promised 'an unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals.' These promises must be honored internationally, even though there may be changes of government. We will persistently demand that these commitments be fulfilled and that the total abolition of nuclear weapons is realized. 2. Steps for nuclear disarmament help nuclear non-proliferation
We are deeply concerned about some nuclear weapons states showing the tendency of only emphasizing the importance of nuclear non-proliferation in the name of the 'war on terrorism,' neglecting to make efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament.
Unless nuclear weapons states give up their policy of relying on nuclear weapons, nuclear proliferation will increase because some countries which at present do not have such weapons may assume that developing nuclear weapons is essential for their survival.
The nuclear weapons states are called upon to take the lead in taking concrete steps to eliminate nuclear weapons as the best way to prevent nuclear proliferation. We ask nuclear weapon states to present concrete plans to eliminate nuclear weapons in a set time frame.
3. Confirm 'irreversible' nuclear disarmament policies
We protest the nuclear-weapon states' research and development of small nuclear weapons as 'usable weapons' while maintaining strategic weapons ready for use and demand that they end such schemes immediately.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty calls for the irreversible character of nuclear disarmament to be maintained. Research on new small nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia, and the U.S. moves to resume underground nuclear testing go against this aim. We call for these plans to be abandoned.
We call on the five nuclear-weapon states to share the world's wish for peace and pursue in good faith effective measures to implement the treaty tasks so that the NPT Review conference will achieve a major historic success.
