The Seventh Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference (REVCON) opens today. The REVCON will run through 27 May 2005.
A few days ago, Steve Rademaker took a break from [you know what] to testify to the House International Relations Committee on “The U.S. Approach to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.”
Rademaker stuck to his hoary talking points about the need to focus on Iran and North Korea. The speech was very similar to others (Sanders and Fitzpatrick), including the talk Rademaker gave at the Arms Control Association in February. Asked how the United States would define a successful REVCON, Rademaker answered:
And in terms of what the United States would like to see come out of the conference, I believe I touched on that in my remarks. We would like consensus in favor of enforcement and action in cases on non-compliance with the treaty, we would like consensus that the additional protocol is the new minimum, safeguard standard. And it’s our view that there should be a consensus reached with respect to Article Four of the treaty, that the benefits of cooperation should only available to countries in compliance with their non-proliferation obligations under Articles Two and Three.
The Department of State has issued a helpful fact sheet on U.S. objectives.
Rademaker aslo suggested that any criticism of the United States on grounds of noncompliane with Article Six undermined nonproliferation. He forgot, however, to mention that the REVCON hates our freedoms.
Rademaker closed his testimony by noting “it is important for all states party to remember that the Review Conference is not an implementing body and that any decisions will not be legally-binding.”
This is the same genius attitude that collapsed the Prepcom last May.
I’ll be heading up to the REVCON to give a talk for the Economists for Peace and Security the last week in May.
For more information, check out the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs, the Campaign to Strengthen the NPT (a joint effort by the Arms Control Association and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
