Plenary II of SHAPE 2010 covered the topic of "NPT Review". Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was established in 1968, to ensure that nuclear power will be used safely and peacefully by Nuclear Weapons States (NWS) as well as Non-Nuclear Weapon States (NNWS). Various speakers around the globe made presentations to discuss NPT.
Admiral Camille Sellier (France), Former Commissariat on Nuclear Energy official of France
"NPT Review French View"
France did not sign the NPT, when the NPT was established in 1968. France applied for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguard protocol for the nuclear technology transfer to countries who were not part of the NPT. However, when the Cold War was over, France joined the NPT in 1991, due to international issues. Since then, France has significantly reduced its nuclear weapons.
Admiral Camille Sellier proposed, "For France, NPT is essentially a major tool of collective security and the aim is to strengthen its support by the international community. France and European partners presented a set of balanced, concrete and realistic proposals on three pillars of the treaty. "
First, Non-proliferation: promoting the universalization and implementation of NPT, universalizing and strengthening of IAEA, cooperation for developing multilateral mechanisms for nuclear fuel.
Second, peaceful uses of nuclear energy: assisting countries to evaluate their energy needs strengthen international cooperation; promote a responsible management of nuclear wastes.
Third, disarmament: achieve the entry in force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and subsequently dismantlement of all test sites in full transparency, effective launching of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT), quick finalization of a post-START treaty between the US and the Russian Federation.
Mohamed Kadry Said (Egypt), Head, Military Studies Unit, Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies
"Egypt's role in advancing peace and nuclear disarmament in the Middle East"
Mohamed Kadry discussed the current status of the Middle East by saying, "The presence of an advanced unsafe-guarded Israeli nuclear program in the Middle East threats the security of the region for the establishment of a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (NWFZ) in the Middle East. Capping of the Israeli nuclear weapons and putting Dimona reactor under the IAEA safeguards within the NPT system would facilitate the establishment of NWFZ in the Middle East."
Egypt has been flexible in dealing with the issue of the Israeli nuclear capability by not using the "nuclear issue", but rather raised its fundamental point of difference that should be tackled through negotiations. Egypt also suggested to having an agreement "in principle" on the creation of a nuclear free zone in the Middle East and practically lived with the idea of a postponement of the negotiations concerning Israeli nuclear capabilities until Israel signs peace treaties with its neighbors.
Alex R. Burkart (U.S.A), Deputy Director of Office of Nuclear Energy, Safety, and Security of the U.S.
"US-ROK Nuclear Cooperation: A Strong Partnership between NPT Parties"
The nuclear cooperation started when President Eisenhower made the "Atoms for Peace" speech by advocating the peaceful use of atomic energy. U.S. bilateral efforts resulted in 44 cooperation agreements with other countries. The continuous efforts made possible for the IAEA in 1957. Following IAEA, NPT was established for peaceful cooperation.
The U.S. has been the most important partner of Korea for nuclear development. The first Agreement for Cooperation between U.S. and Korea concerning civil uses of atomic energy began in 1956. Since then, the two countries have cooperated with each other for the safe use of nuclear power. As Korea localized the capability to manufacture nuclear components in partnership with foreign nuclear firms, Korea took a role as a nuclear supplier, but the responsibility of being a supplier is looking beyond what you will supply.
