Thaindian News

NEW YORK CITY (BNO NEWS) – U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher on Friday said that hard work made at the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons conference is only the beginning.

“Over the last four weeks, the Parties to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons have worked tirelessly and with great dedication to review the implementation of the NPT and reaffirm the international consensus it embodies,” said Under Secretary Tauscher. “Under the President’s leadership, the United States has made every effort to renew that consensus. We have reaffirmed our NPT commitments to make progress toward nuclear disarmament and guarantee access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes to all those abiding by their nonproliferation commitments.”

The final document the conference adopted advances the Obama Administration’s vision, and reflects the collective commitment to uphold and strengthen the international nonproliferation regime. She noted that it also demonstrates the united resolve to strengthen the treaties three pillars, disarmament, nonproliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

“It recognizes the achievement of the U.S.-Russia New START agreement and reflects our shared interest in achieving deeper reductions of all types of nuclear weapons and reducing their role in the international system,” she said. “It emphasizes that peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be made available to all Parties in conformity with the NPT’s nonproliferation provisions, and recognizes the importance of multilateral mechanisms for assurance of nuclear supply and related fuel cycle services.”

She noted further that the final document calls on states to comply fully with the NPT in order to uphold the treaty’s integrity and the authority of its safeguards system. Secretary Clinton’s statement at the opening of this Review Conference noted that “Iran is the only country in this hall that has been found by the IAEA Board of Governors to be currently in noncompliance with its nuclear safeguards obligations. Under Secretary Tauscher said that Iran has done nothing to enhance the international community’s confidence in it by its performance in this review conference.

“We also wish to call out the text concerning North Korea. The United States deplores North Korea’s repeated defiance of international law and its international obligations and commitments. North Korea should understand that it will never achieve security or acceptance by the international community without the complete and verified abandonment of its nuclear weapons programs.”

She concluded that despite the hard work made at the conference, it’s only the beginning. She urged all participants to carry out the commitments made at the conference.

“We look forward to working with our fellow Parties in other appropriate venues, including the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Conference on Disarmament, to ensure that the legacy of this Review Conference is one in which all of us can take pride.”