Nuclear Watchdog Chief Advocates Tougher Non-Proliferation Treaty

NUKEWARS

No country should be allowed to bow out of the NPT "without clear consequences" before the UN Security Council: El Baradei.

Geneva (AFP) Oct 28, 2004
Tighter global controls on the export of nuclear material and technology must be included in a bolstered nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) up for debate next year, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said Thursday.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed El Baradei insisted in an article for a UN review that the multilateral treaty - whose effectiveness has been questioned by the United States - remained "the essential anchor" for global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

Its weaknesses in the face of the advancing availablity of nuclear weapons know-how - now thought to extend to 40 countries - should be tackled by bringing more countries on board a stronger NPT at a review conference due in 2005, he added.

"The nuclear export control system should be universalised and treaty-based, while preserving the inalienable rights of all states to peaceful nuclear technology," El Baradei wrote.

One hundred and eighty-eight countries have joined the 1970 NPT limiting the spread of nuclear weapons, including the five main nuclear superpowers, but not emerging weapons states India, Pakistan, or Israel.

North Korea pulled out last year.

India earlier this month repeated that it was not ready to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty, saying the pact imposes stricter conditions on fledgling nuclear states than on established nuclear powers.

However, the NPT's system of checks on technology and material exports are not binding, and only 61 of the signatories have subscribed to them.

The flaw was one of the triggers for the current tensions between Iran and the IAEA over its enrichment facilities.

The United States has also accused countries of seeking nuclear weapons capability while under the cloak of the NPT.

El Baradei said nuclear inspectors must have the right to conduct checks in all countries, while transparent limits must be placed on processing of plutonium and weapons grade enriched uranium.

No country should be allowed to bow out of the NPT "without clear consequences" before the UN Security Council, he added, rejecting the current allowance for three months notice.

North Korea withdrew from the NPT in 2003 after it revived the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, marking the first time any country has withdrawn from a multilateral arms control treaty.

The move raised international tensions and prompted warnings of "nuclear anarchy".

All rights reserved. � 2004 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

NUKEWARS

DOD Scrambling For Missing Explosives Info

Washington (UPI) Oct 25, 2004
The U.S. Defense Department Monday scrambled to track down records that might indicate where 380 tons of high explosives once stored at an Iraqi warehouse near Baghdad have gone.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.