Greens slam nuclear conference performance
26 May 2005
GREEN conference delegates have today blamed "U.S. hypocrisy, backed by UKcompliance" for the failure of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation TreatyConference, and called on both Governments to abolish their nuclear weaponsprogrammes.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Conference, which has been meeting in New Yorkto review progress of the Treaty for nuclear non-proliferation anddisarmament, has reached its final day with no consensus. Reports suggestthat US delegates tried to "manipulate" the agenda tofocus on nuclear non-proliferation in Iran and North Korea, whilstrefusing to discuss their own nuclear disarmament commitments under theTreatyand the last two Review Conferences.
Jenny Jones, Green AM who was also the Mayor of London's representative atthe conference, comments : "Essentially, the Conference failed because nocountry will stomach being bullied by the US on nuclearnon-proliferation, when - at the same time - the US Congress isagreeing funds to expand their nuclear weapons research and developmentbudget."
"The US undermined the fundamental prerequisite of non-proliferation - thegoal of disarmament - by failing to implement even 1 of the 13 steps towardsdisarmament that they agreed to at the 2000 NPT review conference."
"The NPT is based on cooperation. US hypocrisy and intransigence hassabotaged the trust-based nature of the non-proliferation regime at exactlythe time when it is most needed."
Jenny Jones has also slammed Britain for facilitating the conferencebreakdown, by urging other countries to accept the US position and focus onthe "non-proliferation" agenda."British diplomats were instrumental in upsetting the delicate balance ofthe conference, by accepting the Americans' exclusive focus on Iran andNorth Korea."
She adds : "Britain's credibility, that played such a positive role inreaching agreement at the last Review Conference, now lies in tattersbecause of its willingness to assist the US in sabotaging the conference."
Jenny Jones has warned the Government not to jeopardise its credibility infuture nuclear non-proliferation negotiations, by retaining and expandingits own nuclear programme which breaches the NPT.
She comments: "It is extremely hypocritical and dangerous for Britain toretain nuclear weapons, plan to reopen the THORP reprocessing plant, andexpand our nuclear power programme, whilst our negotiators are trying topersuade Iran to drop its nuclear ambitions."
"The Government must claw back some credibilty by scrapping the MDA,drop any plans to replace the nuclear Trident, and refuse to expand ourown nuclear energy programme."
"Only a total lack of political will to disarm could have delivered aperformance so flagrantly riddled with hypocrisy from the US."
"Seeing the way the US and Britain attach importance to their nuclearweapons how can we expect other countries not to harbour their own nuclearambitions?"
