11 May 2010 - NATO PARLIAMENTARIANS ATTEND OPENING SESSION OF 2010 NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT) REVIEW CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK

The meetings are expected to address key challenges facing the NPT, including strengthening the international safeguards system to curb nuclear proliferation, further steps to reduce existing nuclear arsenals, tackling cases of non-compliance, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, and promoting a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East. The NATO PA delegation had an opportunity to hear addresses by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and other prominent international leaders.

It is possible that this year’s Conference will not repeat the failure of the previous Review Conference in 2005, mainly due to progress in the area of nuclear disarmament, namely the conclusion of the new START Treaty and the publication of the new U.S. Nuclear Posture Review. However, deep disagreements still remain between some of the Non-Aligned Movement countries, which object to the introduction of more intrusive international verification measures, and official nuclear weapon States, which are being accused of disarming too slowly. It remains to be seen if a compromise among the members of the NPT will be found before the conclusion of the Review Conference.

The delegation also had briefings on New York City security issues, highlighted by the recent terrorist bombing attempt in Times Square, and visited the NATO ACT HQ in Norfolk to discuss the Alliance ’s transformation.  The group also heard about on the threat of bioterrorism from experts in Washington D.C., at a roundtable organised by leading U.S. biotech company Emergent BioSolutions.

Group picture at NATO ACT HQ, Norfolk

NATO and NATO PA Observing the NPT Review Conference at the UN in New York