State Department Statement on Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT)

P-5 Non-Proliferation Treaty
Ian Kelly
Department Spokesman, Office of the Spokesman
Bureau of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
May 15, 2009

The Delegations of China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America affirm our collective support for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and welcome the progress and substantive discussion at this Preparatory Committee meeting for the 2010 NPT Review Conference.

Our Delegations reiterate our enduring and unequivocal commitment to work towards nuclear disarmament, an obligation shared by all NPT states parties. We welcome the decision by the U.S. and Russia to negotiate an agreement to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and the recent emphasis on further steps, including promotion of entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and negotiation at the CD of a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty within its agreed programme of work.

Our Delegations also agree that action is needed to reinforce the IAEA safeguards system and to ensure full compliance by states with their international obligations. The NPT reflects the right of all parties to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and also their obligations to safeguard against proliferation.

Our Delegations share the commitment to support the implementation of Article IV of the NPT and further develop proposals that promise to expand the peaceful use of nuclear energy in ways that reduce proliferation risk.

We note our commitment to use the opportunity of the 2010 Review Conference to preserve international confidence in the Treaty and to strengthen it in all its aspects. We urge all NPT states parties to share in this goal and join us working to ensure a successful and balanced review.