Tehran conference: Redouble efforts for nuclear disarmament

April 19, 2010 - 0:0

TEHRAN – The participants at the international nuclear disarmament conference in Tehran issued a final statement on Sunday, insisting on “redoubling efforts to overcome the current deadlock to achieve nuclear disarmament.”

The two-day high profile nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation conference, with the motto of “Nuclear Energy For All, Nuclear Weapons For None”, was attended by many high-level officials and eminent experts from about 60 countries.
The participants discussed the concerns and challenges related to disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), in particular, nuclear weapons.
Following is the full text of the statement:
1. Expressed the deep concern on the complicated situation over the international disarmament and security, the continued existence of WMD in particular nuclear weapons and the use or threat to use such weapons.
2. Put emphasis on nuclear disarmament as the highest priority of the international community and the necessity for the total elimination of such inhumane weapons in accordance with the NPT, and the final document of the 1995 and 2000 NPT Review Conference in particular, complete realization of the 13 nuclear disarmament practical steps committed by nuclear weapons.
3. Stressed the importance of redoubling efforts to overcome the current deadlock to achieve nuclear disarmament in all its aspects and promotion of multilateralism in the field of nuclear disarmament and non proliferation.
4. Emphasized on the necessity for concluding a comprehensive, non-discriminatory and legally binding Convention on the total ban on development, production, transfer, stockpiling, use or threat to use such weapons, in order to achieve a world free from nuclear weapons, taking note of the experience of the concluding of two Conventions namely the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1992 and the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972, as well as providing comprehensive and non-discriminatory security assurances pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
5. Stressed the need to take measures for the realization of nuclear weapon free zones in different parts of the world, in particular in the Middle East, based on the UN relevant resolutions and pending the achievement of such goal as a first step, the accession of the Zionist Regime to the non-proliferation Treaty and putting its nuclear facilities under the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards is a must.
6. Stressed the principles of the irreversibility, transparency and verifiability in any bilateral or multilateral agreement on cutting the number of nuclear weapons.
7. Affirmed the inalienable right of the NPT State Parties to use nuclear energy in all its aspects and the necessity to promote international cooperation as a pillar of the NPT in accordance with the commitments under Article IV.
8. Emphasized that attacking the peaceful nuclear facilities results in grave negative consequences for human beings and the environment, and is a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter.
9. Expressed the grave concern over the weakening of the non-proliferation regime due to implementation of double-standards and discriminatory approaches by certain Nuclear Weapon States, in particular the cooperation of certain Nuclear Weapon States with the NPT non-parties and neglecting the nuclear arsenal of the Zionist Regime.
10. Emphasized the necessity to comply with the respective obligations on destruction of chemical weapons within the agreed timeframe (2012), as well as the necessity to address the biological threats.
11. Taking note of the importance of this Conference and its results, we would like as a host to propose that the results of this Conference to be submitted to the UN Secretary General and other relevant international organizations and be recorded as the document of these organizations.
12. Noting also the interest showed by the participants to the topic of this Conference and in order to review ways and means to promote the goals of this Conference, and since a number of participants expressed their interest, the second conference of “International Disarmament and Security” would be held in April, 2011 in Tehran