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Al-Ahram Weekly 7 - 13 October 1999 Issue No. 450 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 7 - 13 October 1999 Issue No. 450
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Interview Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Ban the bomb
By Dina EzzatSecuring the necessary political will for the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons and the prevention of their proliferation and stockpiling is proving to be quite a challenging task for the New Agenda Coalition (NAC).
Launched in June 1998, this coalition of seven like-minded states is composed of Egypt, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Ireland, Sweden and New Zealand. Throughout last year, NAC has been trying to promote its objective of total elimination of nuclear weapons and prohibition of their development and stockpiling.
While in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, the seven foreign ministers of NAC met to take stock of their efforts so far. In their meeting, they expressed concern for the absence of a definitive process that could lead to the early elimination of nuclear weapons.
They also voiced concern over the fact that three countries that possess advanced nuclear capabilities still resist adherence to the global non-proliferation regime. While not explicitly naming Israel, India and Pakistan, the communiqué issued at the end of the NAC ministerial meeting on 22 September underlined the risks posed by this situation.
Therefore, the NAC foreign ministers decided to intensify their efforts towards accelerating negotiations on nuclear disarmament and achieving the universality of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
"A sincere commitment to prohibit chemical and biological weapons was followed by serious negotiations which eventually culminated in conventions that prohibit and restrict these weapons," said Foreign Minister Amr Moussa. He added: "We cannot be less ambitious nor can we accept anything with regard to the case of nuclear weapons."
But despite the NAC commitment the road is not easy. Indeed, despite the overwhelming support demonstrated last year by 114 UN member-states to the cause of NAC when they voted in favour of a resolution presented by this coalition calling for a new agenda on nuclear disarmament, there remains strong opposition from the majority of NATO countries. NATO argues that their collective obligations under the alliance's charter and policy conflict with the call of the NAC for speedy denuclearisation.
Unfortunately, the misleading proposition that nuclear weapons can be retained in perpetuity and never be used accidentally or by design still seems to hold ground among the five nuclear powers who are largely opposed to the NAC initiative.
The US, for example, argues that the main effort in the field of nuclear disarmament is conducted, and should continue to be conducted, by the five nuclear powers. Russia agrees with this policy. As for the rest of the international community, the US and Russia alike would prefer that it plays a complementary role in nuclear disarmament policies.
"But we never expected these talks to be an instant success. We knew from the very beginning that we have to depend on gradual persuasion when you talk to countries about a radical change of policy," commented one Irish diplomat.
Underlining his country's commitment to the initiative, he added that for its part Ireland is confident that NAC is not going to give up and that its member-states do not mind spending a few years to promote their common cause.
Ireland is a candidate to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the year 2000. If it is elected, said the Irish diplomat, his country is going to pursue the cause of NAC from within the Security Council.
NAC foreign ministers also decided to consider further steps that need to be taken to advance their goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. They announced their intention, for example, to present a resolution to the UN General Assembly this year calling for specific steps to be taken to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in security policies.
Moreover, the NAC ministers intend to conduct more frequent consultations in order to better coordinate their efforts and follow up on the results of their work. The same views were aired by diplomats from South Africa and Mexico. They argued that their countries' strong commitment to the cause of global denuclearisation means that their countries are going to use every possible forum to promote the NAC cause.
Moussa stated that Egypt believes that NAC must always maintain a clear vision of its goal and remain focused on its objective -- the elimination of nuclear weapons. Egypt, he added, also believes that NAC's efforts must continually seek to secure the political will necessary to attain this goal.
And, as one Egyptian diplomatic source affirmed, whatever initiatives NAC may propose will always be consistent with the even-handed and pragmatic approach that the coalition has adopted from the outset and which has ensured its credibility.
