Global IssuesDisarmamentEnvironmentHuman RightsInternational SecurityInternational OrganisationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastNorth AmericaPacific
New Zealand takes note of the Director General’s report of 3 September on Israeli Nuclear Capabilities, which reports on Member State views with respect to meeting the objectives of GC(53)/RES/17 “Israeli Nuclear Capabilities”.
New Zealand responded to the Director General’s invitation for Member State views in a letter dated 30 August from the Honourable Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand. This letter is contained in Annex 2 of the Director General’s report.
Mr Chairman
New Zealand remains committed to the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and consistently calls on all states that have yet to do so to immediately join the NPT as non-nuclear-weapon states. At the same time, New Zealand believes that existing States Party to the NPT should fulfil all of their commitments under the Treaty, including those verified by the IAEA.
New Zealand opposed the INC resolution in 2009 because it singled out Israel as a non-NPT member while ignoring serious concerns about non-compliance by NPT States Party in the Middle East. It is our understanding that all of the major elements of the resolution as proposed were covered in a balanced manner in Resolution GC(53)/RES/16 “Application of IAEA Safeguards in the Middle East”.
Mr Chairman
New Zealand continues to view the INC resolution as divisive and limited in its ability to contribute to the breakthrough that is being sought in the Middle East. New Zealand supports efforts to establish a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East and, in this context, welcomes the outcome of the NPT Review Conference including its reaffirmation of the 1995 Middle East resolution and its agreement to convene a conference in 2012 to discuss its implementation.
The 2010 NPT outcome constitutes a significant achievement and New Zealand believes we should now endeavour to maximise its potential to contribute to future success. New Zealand remains concerned that the non-consensual INC resolution would undermine this process and would hamper the IAEA’s ability to plan a constructive role in moving the issue forward.
Thank you Mr Chairman.
