Norway disappointed over lack of consensus at NPT Review Conference
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Published under: Solberg's Government
Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press release | Date: 23/05/2015 | Last updated: 26/05/2015
‘It is disappointing that the Review Conference of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) did not result in consensus on an outcome document. Having said this, it is encouraging that the initiative on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons has now become an integral part of the discussions on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.
The NPT Review Conference was concluded after four weeks of intense negotiations in New York. No consensus was reached on a joint outcome document.
‘Norway has played an active role in the work to strengthen the three pillars of the non-proliferation treaty. Despite the failure to reach consensus, the Conference has sent important signals to the international community on the continued work in this area,’ said Mr Brende.
Over a number of years, Norway and the UK have worked to develop methods for verifying the destruction of nuclear warheads. This important work was widely recognised at the Conference, and the project will now be continued, together with the US-led International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV).
‘We are looking forward to hosting the next plenary meeting in the IPNDV in Oslo this autumn. This is an important and effective measure for ensuring the highest possible degree of confidence in future disarmament processes,’ said Mr Brende.
During the NPT Review Conference, an initiative was also launched to work for the prohibition of nuclear weapons internationally. No NATO members supported this initiative. ‘Supporting a ban on nuclear weapons would not be in keeping with NATO’s strategic concept, which has been adopted by the heads of state and government of the Alliance,’ Mr Brende commented.