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Parliamentarians, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

and Nuclear Weapon Free Zones

A forum focusing on parliamentary actions to support the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty leading up to its review in 2005, and to promote the establishment of a Southern Hemisphere and Adjacent Areas Nuclear Weapon Free Zone

Sponsored by the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament and Parliaments for Global Action (New Zealand)

Parliament of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand

December 8, 2004

 

New Zealand Minister of Disarmament the Hon. Marian Hobbs

who addressed the forum on proposals

for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 2005 Review

Introduction to the forum

Speakers

Program

Forum Report

Speeches

Photo Gallery

 

 

Introduction:

 

The threats posed by nuclear weapons have re-emerged recently as evidence of clandestine nuclear proliferation has been revealed, other States have openly begun a nuclear weapons path and existing nuclear weapon States have extended their nuclear war-fighting doctrine and begun developing new types of nuclear weapons.

 

Parliamentarians, working with their colleagues nationally and internationally, can play a vital role in curbing nuclear dangers, supporting nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament initiatives, and building cooperative security regimes.

 

Two important arenas for this work are the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review process and the development and strengthening of nuclear weapon free zones.

 

Non-Proliferation Treaty Review

 

Under the NPT non-nuclear weapon States have pledged not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons in return for a commitment by the nuclear weapon States to negotiate for nuclear disarmament. The NPT will be reviewed by States parties (every country in the world except India, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan) in 2005. The treaty is under severe strain due to non-compliance by States of their obligations and the possibility of further withdrawal of States. Parliamentarians could help ensure the NPT is maintained and strengthened through supporting key proposals being made to the 2005 NPT Review Conference.

 

Southern Hemisphere and Adjacent Areas Nuclear Weapon Free Zone

 

All of the countries in the Southern Hemisphere, and some of their neighbours in the north, have joined together to form regional nuclear weapon free zones. A proposal to link these zones has received overwhelming support by members of the United Nations. A Southern Hemisphere and Adjacent Areas Nuclear Weapon Free Zone could assist to improve and strengthen the existing zones and encourage the development of additional nuclear weapon free zones.

 

Parliamentarians can assist by encouraging ratification of the existing zones, supporting the proposal for a conference of States parties to the regional zones and encouraging the release of a forward looking non-proliferation and disarmament declaration to be made by the States parties to the zones.

 

 

Speakers:

 

Senator Abacca Anjain-Maddison (Marshall Islands)

H.E. Angelica Arce de Jeannet, Mexican Ambassador to New Zealand:  

Edmundo Vargas Carreņo, Secretary-General of OPANAL (Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean)

Raphael Chegeni MP (Tanzania), Secretary General of the Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace

Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, Prime Minister (New Zealand)

Hon. Marian Hobbs MP, Minister of Disarmament (New Zealand)

Representative Dennis J. Kucinich (United States)

Issam Makhoul MP (Israel)

Hon. Matt Robson MP (New Zealand)

Malcolm Savidge MP (UK)

Hon. Nick Smith MP, Chair PNND (New Zealand)

Adolfo Taylhardat MP (Venezuela)

Kiyohiko Toyama MP (Japan)

 

 

 Program December 8

 

9:00

Session 1: The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: Prospects and proposals

Chair: Hon. Nick Smith MP, Chair PNND New Zealand

Welcome:               Kerry Prendergast, Mayor of Wellington (confirmed)
Opening:

Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand

Keynote:

Representative Dennis J. Kucinich (United States)

US Congress, Nuclear Weapons and the NPT
     
Speakers:

Hon. Marian Hobbs MP, Minister of Disarmament New Zealand

New Agenda Coalition proposals for disarmament and non-proliferation

Senator Abacca Anjain-Maddison

Health and Environmental Effects of Nuclear Weapons

   
Discussion
 
11:00 Morning tea
11:30 Session 2: Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty: Parliamentary engagement
Chair: Hon. Peter Dunne, Chair of the New Zealand Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (confirmed)
Speakers: Kiyohiko Toyama MP (Japan)
  Adolfo Taylhardat MP (Venezuela)
  Malcolm Savidge MP (UK)
Discussion
 
13:00 Lunch
Keynote Speaker:

Edmundo Vargas Carreņo, Secretary-General of OPANAL (Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean) (confirmed)

Nuclear Weapon Free Zones and the promotion of nuclear non-proliferation

14:30

Session 3: Southern Hemisphere and Adjacent Areas Nuclear Weapon Free Zone: Proposal and progress

Chair: Hon. Harry Duynhoven MP, Chair, PGA – New Zealand
Speakers:

H.E. Angelica Arce de Jeannet, Mexican Ambassador to New Zealand (confirmed)

Conference of States parties to the regional zones
 

Hon. Matt Robson MP (confirmed)

Declaration from the States parties to the zones
 

Issam Makhoul MP (Israel)

Prospects for a nuclear free zone in the Middle East
Discussion
 
15:40 Afternoon tea
16:00

Session 4: Southern Hemisphere and Adjacent Areas Nuclear Weapon Free Zone: Parliamentary engagement

Chair: Keith Locke MP, Secretary of PNND New Zealand (confirmed)
Speakers:

Raphael Chegeni MP, Secretary General of the Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace

Ratification of the Pelindaba Treaty

Hon Nick Smith MP, Chair of PNND New Zealand

Parliamentary actions to support SH&AANWFZ

Alyn Ware, Global Coordinator of PNND

Closing comments

   
   
Discussion
 
17:40 Close
19:00 Dinner
What's New?

Report on PNND Conference in Vancouver,     Nov 7-9, 2003

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