During SHAPE 2010, the Plenary I Session titled "Nuclear Weapon Free World" was held at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel on Thursday. It started with two chairpersons, Ambassador Thomas Graham, Jr. and Dr. Cheon Seong-whun, General Bernard Norlain, the President of National Defense Studies Committee of France made a presentation regarding France's stance on nuclear weapons.
General Bernard Norlain first explained on France's stance on nuclear weapons, "We have lowered the nuclear threshold and we have accepted the risk of nuclear conflicts. There is no alternative to global multilateral negotiations on complete nuclear disarmament. The two conditions, for the nuclear powers are to respect their commitments of TNP's article 6 and to consider the security assurance needs of the other countries."
"The anti-nuclear movement has never been strong in France. For the French, nuclear weapons remain the positive symbol of an independent foreign and defense policy. French public opinion supports the continued possession of nuclear weapons and this support has remained fairly high since the end of the cold war. Nevertheless some people and decision-makers have understood that times have changed and that nuclear weapons represent a terrible danger for world security. The issue of nuclear zero, as well as the necessary measures to be taken for disarmament, can now be raised publicly in the French political discourse."
Lastly, he mentioned about the realistic point of view of nuclear free world, "It will take many years of technical, diplomatic and political efforts to prepare, negotiate and implementation an agreement for eliminating nuclear weapons. In the present time we have to be realistic, the real world shows that the non proliferation policy is very fragile. There is a true risk of proliferation "cascade" in Middle East and Far East." He continued to say, "To conclude for France, if this initiative is followed by some other great powers, it would be difficult for France to stay away from a coordinated initiative to begin negotiations for a treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons from all nations."