PROGRESS IN ESTABLISHING NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE ZONES

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PROGRESS IN ESTABLISHING NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE ZONES

• Randy Rydell Ph. D.
• UN Office for Disarmament Affairs
• Statement at the Organization of American States
• Committee on Hemispheric Security
• 26 February 2009

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The Nuclear Weapon Challenge

• un atentado a la integridad de la especie
  humana y aún pueden tornar finalmente toda la
  Tierra inhabitable.
• Preamble, Treaty of Tlatelolco
• The mere existence of nuclear weapons constitutes
  a threat to all humanity
• Resolved, in Santiago de Chile Declaration
• (Opanal General Conference, 2005)

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Estimates of World Nuclear Arsenals (2009)

• Total nuclear weapons gt 23,300 Russia
  13,000 (3100 strategic) USA
  9,400 (2200 strategic)
• Deployment limits under SORT
• 1,700 2,200 (by 31 Dec 2012)
• 2,000 on high-alert status
• Source Federation of American Scientists

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NWFZ TREATIES OVERVIEW
TREATY YEAR MEMBERS
Tlatelolco 1967 33
Rarotonga 1985 13
Bangkok 1995 10
Pelindaba 1996 51
Central Asia 2006 5
TOTAL 112
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The Importance of Tlatelolco

• First nuclear-weapon-free zone in a heavily
  populated region
• First multilateral treaty to define the term,
  nuclear weapon
• First treaty to establish legally binding
  negative security assurances
• First NWFZ with its own verification system
• Remains the only NWFZ treaty whose Protocols are
  in effect with all NWS.

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Recent Events in Mexico City in Support of NWFZs

• April 2005 First Conference of States Parties
  to Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones
• February 2008 41st Anniversary Commemoration of
  Tlatelolco
• August 2008 Extraordinary Session of OPANAL,
  with UN Secretary-General

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NWFZ LEGAL FOUNDATION

• UN CHARTER regional arrangements or agencies
  for dealing with such matters relating to the
  maintenance of international peace and security
  as are appropriate for regional action provided
  that such arrangements or agencies and their
  activities are consistent with the Purposes and
  Principles of the United Nations. (Art. 52)
• NPT Nothing in this Treaty affects the right of
  any group of States to conclude regional treaties
  in order to assure the total absence of nuclear
  weapons in their respective territories. (Art.
  VII) -- Also stressed at 1995 2000 NPT Review
  Conferences
• SSOD-I an important disarmament measure (Para
  60)

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NWFZ PRINCIPLES (UNDC, 1999)

• Prohibit development, manufacturing, control,
  possession, testing, stationing or transporting
  of any type of nuclear-explosive device, for any
  purpose within a defined geographical entity
• Effective verification -- IAEA full-scope
  safeguards
• Freely arrived at among the States of the
  region concerned
• Status respected by NWS and states with
  territories in the region consultation with NWS
  in negotiations
• NWS binding commitment not to use or threaten use
  of NW
• Conformity with international law law of the
  sea
• Should not prevent, and could also promote,
  peaceful uses

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NPT vs. NWFZ?

• Legally-binding security assurances
• Outlaws stationing/basing
• Infrastructures of support Commissions
• Physical security controls
• Environmental controls dumping
• Terms for implementing withdrawals
• No attacks on nuclear facilities (Pelindaba)
• Procedures for settling disputes

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The Evolution of NWFZs The Pelindaba Treaty

• Scope covers R D
• Duty to declare/destroy old NW facilities
• Full-scope IAEA safeguards
• IAEA physical protection standard
• Prohibits testing
• No attacking nuclear facilities
• Commission AFCONE
• Environmental no nuclear dumping

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Progress on WMD-Free Zones

• Long-standing goal in the Middle East, recognized
  by all states
• We declare our objective to make the Americas a
  region free of biological and chemical weapons.
  Declaration
  on Security in the Americas (2003)
• A model WMD-free zone treaty? Challenge to keep
  the nuclear disarmament priority, and coordinate
  with international WMD regimes.

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Disarmament Action on Many Levels

• Unilateral
• Bilateral
• Plurilateral
• Regional
• Multilateral/global

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Next Steps

• Pelindaba entry into force
• Universal regional membership
• P5 ratification of Protocols
• Promote new zones Southern Hemisphere, Middle
  East, South Asia, Northeast Asia
• Explore WMD-free zone concept
• Problem of non-NPT States

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Importance of Expanding Participation

• Parliamentarians, mayors, governors
• Networking among diverse NGOs
• Expanded support from foundations
• Coordinated action in multilateral fora
• High-level policy statements
• Education and training

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Conclusion

• Freeing the world from WMD requires sustained
  efforts at all political levels -- grassroots to
  global
• The OAS has shown how regional action can advance
  global norms -- a strong foundation for meeting
  the WMD challenges ahead.