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Zimbabwe to chair crucial nuclear treaty negotiations
Institute for Security Studies (ISS)
May 09, 2008

http://www.issafrica.org/index.php?link_id=5&slink_id=5936&link_type=12&slink_type=12&tmpl_id=3

Zimbabwe's permanent representative to the United Nations, ambassador Boniface Guwe Chidyausiki, has been elected to chair the next preparatory committee for the 2010 Review Conference of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Due to be held in New York in May 2009, this will be the third session of the preparatory committee that will be held prior to the Review Conference.

Zimbabwe was nominated by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Ambassador Chidyausiki's election was confirmed during the second session of preparatory committee currently being held in Geneva (28 April - 9 May 2008).

With Zimbabwe's election to this position and with only three more ratifications needed to bring the Pelindaba-treaty on an African Nuclear-Weapon-Free zone into force, it seems Africa could play a major role in re-invigorating the need for nuclear weapon states to irreversibly and in a transparent manner dismantle their nuclear arsenals in accordance with article VI of the NPT.

The purpose of the third session in 2009 is to consider principles, objectives and ways to promote the full implementation of the NPT, as well as its universality, and to make recommendations to the Review Conference.

Although the NPT is regarded as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the actual use of nuclear weapons, either by design or by accident continues to be one of the most fundamental threats to global human and environmental security. The NPT is designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to further the goal of nuclear disarmament and to promote co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It entered into force in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995.

Under the treaty, each nuclear weapon state party undertakes not to transfer nuclear weapons to any recipient, nor to assist or encourage any non-nuclear-weapon state to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons. Similarly, each non-nuclear-weapon-state party undertakes not to receive the transfer of nuclear weapons or manufacture or otherwise acquire them.

To further the goal of non-proliferation, the NPT establishes a safeguard system under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Safeguards are used to verify compliance with the NPT through inspections conducted by the IAEA. The NPT promotes cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear technology and equal access to this technology for all states parties, while safeguards prevent the diversion of fissile material (principally uranium-233, uranium-235 and plutonium-239) for the development of weapons.

The second session of the preparatory committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference has run far more smoothly than last year's disappointing meeting, where state parties had very little time to debate the issues contained in the NPT.

During the first three sessions, seven African countries presented general statements, including the Republic of Congo, Namibia and South Africa. The African statements highlighted various challenges for the NPT and the review cycle, including the promotion of universality, the right for states to pursue of peaceful nuclear energy and nuclear weapon-free zones. South Africa also stressed the inextricable link between nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Kenya and Botswana both presented their general statements during the second week of the preparatory committee.

The deliberations following the general statements revealed that African states wish to see the Pelindaba Treaty come into force so that the entire southern hemisphere can become nuclear weapon free. This sentiment was echoed in the speeches by New Zealand and Australia, who argued that nuclear weapon-free zones remain an important part of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. African states such as South Africa and Namibia also emphasized the importance for increased discussion on the nuclear fuel cycle proposals, given the legal, technical and economic implications of the issue. There was also general consensus amongst African states that nuclear weapons promote insecurity and conflict rather than enhance stability.

This year is proving to be an important year for African efforts to enhance international and regional peace and security. As of 8 May 2008, all 53 members of the African Union (AU) have signed the Pelindaba Treaty (including the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) and 24 countries have deposited their instruments of ratification with the AU Commission. The Mozambican parliament, on 26 March 2008, unanimously ratified the Pelindaba Treaty and Ethiopia deposited its ratification on 13 March 2008.

Although African participation at the 2008 preparatory committee meeting was rather limited, there is a great expectation that next year's meeting, under the chairmanship of Zimbabwe, will inspire more African states to participate actively in the proceedings. It is also hoped that by May 2009, the Pelindaba Treaty would have come into force, sending a clear message to the rest of the world that the African continent is committed to the dual goals of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

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