Agenda Compromise Resolves NPT Meeting Impasse

Iran today agreed to a compromise agenda for a Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty conference in Vienna, but just four days remain to a planned 10-day meeting, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, May 7).

From day one, Iranian diplomats blocked passage of a proposed agenda that included language “reaffirming the need for full compliance” with the treaty. 

The diplomats argued that the language unfairly targeted nations with emerging nuclear technology and failed to address the disarmament obligations of nuclear-weapon states.

South African diplomats proposed a compromise Friday that suggested adding a statement that “all provisions” of the treaty should be observed.

To the surprise of most delegations, Iran accepted that compromise today, according to AP.

“My government can accept the proposal by South Africa,” said Iranian delegation leader Ali Asghar Soltanieh.

His announcement and the agenda’s formal adoption spurred brief applause in the meeting room, AP reported.

About 130 nations are attending the annual meeting intended to prepare for the treaty’s 2010 review conference.

The compromise solution — and the original Iranian objection — were unnecessary, said U.S. delegation head Christopher Ford.  The original language addressed all treaty obligations, he said.

“It’s been disappointing that as a result of Iranian obstruction of procedure, it has taken so long to get to the point of beginning substantive discussion,” he said.  The new language was a “restatement of the obvious,” he added (Associated Press/New York Times, May 8).

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