Political News

Australia and Japan to Host Workshop on Anti-Nuclear Treaty

By Joshua Smith - 8th May, 2001

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer today announced that on 14-15 May Australia and Japan will co-host an international workshop in Geneva on a treaty to ban the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.

The Australian Government has long regarded a treaty to ban the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons as a key priority and the logical next step on the international nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament agenda. "Such a treaty, known as the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), would give us all greater security by capping the amount of nuclear material available for nuclear weapons use. A cut-off treaty would contribute to the creation of a security environment conducive to further progress on nuclear disarmament." suggested Mr Downer.

The international community has repeatedly endorsed negotiation of a cut-off treaty, including at the 2000 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference and in a resolution adopted unanimously at last year's United Nations General Assembly. Alexander Downer has been a strong advocate for a cut-off treaty and in his 1998 address to the Conference on Disarmament stressed the need for early commencement of negotiations.

Despite the support for the cut-off treaty, negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament are yet to begin because of disagreements over other areas of the Conference’s work program. The Government is deeply disappointed by the Conference on Disarmament deadlock. Many share Australia's sense of frustration at the delay in starting cut-off negotiations and it is clear that productive work on the treaty cannot be delayed indefinitely.

"We hope that by enabling progress on cut-off issues ahead of the formal negotiations, the Australia-Japan workshop will pave the way for more rapid progress when negotiations begin." Mr Downer has stated.

As moderator for the first session, Australia's Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Les Luck will guide discussion on the role and significance of the cut-off treaty and the general obligations States will assume under it. An expert from the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office, Dr Victor Bragin, will present a paper on the key topic of cut-off verification requirements.

Australia's support for the cut-off treaty reflects the nation's long-established credentials on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament issues. Mr Downer has expressed his intent to continue efforts towards the achievement of a cut-off treaty as the vital next step for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament