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 Carreño, 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