Statement by Mr. Jeremy Kruse, Counsellor and Deputy Head of Permanent Mission of Australia - Vienna, on behalf of the Vienna Group of Ten, to Main Committee III as part of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as delivered on 10 May 2010.
(as delivered)
Mr Chairman
I have the honor to take the floor on behalf of the members of the Vienna Group of Ten: Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and my own country Australia.
At the outset let me congratulate your election as Chairman of Main Committee III. We assure you of our full support as you guide us in our work over the coming weeks.
Mr Chairman
We consider this Committee’s work critical to a successful outcome at this Review Conference. The Vienna Group affirms the right of all Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination, and in conformity with Articles I, II and III of the Treaty. With that right comes the responsibility to ensure that nuclear activities are carried out in the best possible non-proliferation, safety and security conditions.
Mindful of this balance of rights and responsibilities, the Vienna Group has prepared several working papers on issues of relevance to Main Committee III.
These papers - covering the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Physical Protection - have been circulated as conference working papers 15, 18, 19 and 20. Each of these papers proposes specific draft review language, which has been carefully crafted to facilitate consensus on key issues.
The Vienna Group’s working paper on the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, for example, proposes some balanced draft review language, noting how fuel assurance mechanisms can act to support both the Treaty’s peaceful use and non-proliferation objectives.
In addition to the draft review language, the Vienna Group has submitted a separate working paper proposing a number of specific elements which might be considered for inclusion in any forward-looking Action Plan to be adopted by the Conference. This has been circulated as conference working paper 38. This list of proposed elements is not intended as an exhaustive list.
We hope the draft language and proposed elements contained in these papers will assist the work of the Committee.
The members of the Vienna Group, acting in their national capacities, look forward to working with other delegations in a constructive and positive spirit in this Committee, and in the conference more broadly, over coming weeks.