Disappointment to NPT without Agreed Document

The 11^th review conference of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was closedwithout agreement on the consensus outcome document. Although the president of the conference offered drafts of the outcome document, it was refused by nuclear powers that are engaging wars. Sufferers from atomic bombs in Japan at the end of World War II were deeply disappointed with the conclusion of the conference. 

The conference has been held mostly every five years for implementing the NPT which is aimed at preventing spread of nuclear weapons, advancing nuclear disarmament and promoting peaceful use of nuclear energy. However, the parties failed in concluding a consensus outcome document in the last two meetings. The United States and the United Kingdom refused an initiative of nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East in 2015 and Russia opposed description on Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine in 2022.

 

At the beginning of 11^th review conference, the president of the conference and Vietnamese representative to the United Nations, Do Hung Viet, urged the parties to reach an agreement. “A balanced outcome that reaffirms core commitments and sets out practical steps forward would strengthen the integrity of the NPT,” said Viet. Assistant Secretary General and High Representative for Nuclear Disarmament, Izumi Nakamitsu, expressed her concern on hollowing out of NPT regime in her press conference in Tokyo early April.

 

During the review conference between April 27^th and May 22^nd, Viet offered the parties four drafts of the outcome document. Facing firm oppositions from nuclear powers, the drafts were reduced from 13 pages to 7 pages. Russia refused a phrase that expressed grave concern about safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine and support for complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of Korean Peninsula. Concerns of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over Iran’s non-compliance with its obligation in the safeguard agreement was dropped with protest of Iran. Even with dilution of the drafts, the partiers could not reach a consensus on the document.

 

The government of Japan did not lead the discussion for the agreement. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not participate in the opening discussion of the conference, making a contrast from one of her predecessors, Fumio Kishida, who showedJapan’s determination to uphold NPT as its guardian in 2022 review conference. In the first half of 11^th review conference, Japan received accusation from China, which pointed out that a staff of Prime Minister’s Official Residence had referred to Japan’s intention of possessing nuclear weapon last December.

 

Secretary General of Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization (Nippon Hidankyo), Jiro Hamazumi, gave a speech to the conference on May 1^st, in which he argued that nuclear weapon was a satanic weapon that human being cannot coexist with. On the failure of having a consensus outcome document, Hamazum regretted it and insisted his determination to eliminate nuclear weapons, demanding a change of discussion over security based on nuclear power.