NWS fail 1st Test of Renewed NPT

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

NUCLEAR WEAPON STATES FAIL FIRST TEST OF RENEWED NON-

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                  GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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NUCLEAR WEAPON STATES FAIL FIRST TEST OF RENEWED NON-
PROLIFERATION TREATY

NEW YORK, May 13, 1995 -- (GP)  The Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT) talks ended in disarray yesterday, as the five nuclear
weapon states refused to commit to nuclear disarmament steps
demanded by non-nuclear countries.

In a late-night session, the U.S., Russia, France, Britain and
China clashed with non-nuclear countries over their
performance in meeting their NPT obligations to move toward
the elimination of their nuclear arsenals.  The resulting
deadlock meant the
conference ended with no Final Document and an unfinished
Review of the implementation of the Treaty.  Only the previous
day, the Conference had agreed by a majority to extend the
Treaty
indefinitely and to strengthen its Review mechanism.

"The nuclear weapon states have failed the first test of the
so-called enhanced NPT," Greenpeace's Stephanie Mills said.
"After four weeks of lobbying to make the Treaty permanent,
their first act is one of bad faith:  a refusal to
acknowledge their past failings or to set new goals for
nuclear disarmament.  This raises serious questions about
whether the strengthened Review process adopted this week will
result in increased accountability from the nuclear weapon
states."

The burden of proof was now on the nuclear powers, she said,
to ensure that future Review meetings -- to take place
annually from 1997 -- make progress toward elimination of
nuclear arsenals, rather than cement the status quo.

"The NPT Conference failed to result in the dismantling of a
single nuclear weapon, or stop the production of a single gram
of
plutonium.  Indefinite extension of the Treaty, with its
fundamental contradictions and flaws still intact, will make a
sham of international efforts toward nuclear disarmament and
non-proliferation unless the nuclear weapon states begin to
live up to their promises," she said.  "The world will only
become a safer place if the nuclear weapon states make real
steps toward  reducing and eliminating their nuclear
arsenals."

She said the next major test of the nuclear weapon states
sincerity would be France's decision on nuclear testing.  If
tests resume in defiance of the international community and
France's obligations under the NPT, the future credibility of
the Treaty looked bleak, she said.

ENDS  Contact: Stephanie Mills +212 941 0994 ext 211


TL: 1995 NON-PROLIFERATION REVIEW & EXTENSION CONF
SO: Stephanie Mills, Greenpeace International, (GP)
DT: May 13, 1995