 |
|
Looking
Ahead
 lthough
the states parties at the 2005 NPT Review Conference could not agree on
how to deal with the challenges facing the treaty, the NPT remains the
cornerstone of the global nonproliferation regime. As the most universal
of the arms control treaties, the NPT has, since its entry into force
nearly 40
years ago, served to prevent nuclear proliferation, created the movement
for nuclear disarmament, and promoted peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Given its almost universal nature, the treaty serves as an important
vehicle towards global progress on nuclear nonproliferation and
disarmament issues. The NPT states parties have worked to strengthen the
IAEA safeguards system and have improved the NPT review process to
promote full implementation of the Treaty. States parties continued to
work towards universal adherence to the treaty, and the establishment of
additional
nuclear-weapon-free zones.
However, as a result of the changing security environment, the NPT
regime faces
serious challenges from within and outside the regime. The treaty’s
failure to effectively deal with these challenges have led way to
question the NPT’s effectiveness and fundamental validity.
The 2005 Review Conference was unable to reach any substantive
agreement due to deep divergence of priority of treaty obligations and
conflicting views between political groupings. Concerns exist that this
negative outcome could have negative implications on the treaty’s
credibility and validity in the long run. However, a Review Conference
should not only be judged by the ability or lack thereof by NPT states
parties to agree by consensus on a final document. Although short on
substance, the Conference offered an opportunity to explore new ways to
strengthen the treaty, including ways to enforce compliance to prevent
further withdrawals.
Looking toward the 2010 Review Conference, more
initiatives outside of the NPT framework will likely be taken, some
which have already generated debates among states parties with regards
to further restriction on the inalienable right of peaceful uses of
nuclear energy. Many states parties are rightfully concerned that new
initiatives to enhance nonproliferation obligations could be implemented
at the expense of other provisions of the treaty. For this reason,
implementation of the NPT as a whole would be the key for the treaty to
continue to serve as a cornerstone of international peace and security.
The NPT regime needs to be strengthened through various avenues
including reframing the review process, and the possible enforcement
mechanism. In order to enhance the NPT regime, a more effective
compliance and enforcement mechanism is necessary. In addition, NPT
states parties must demonstrate support for and implementation of
political commitments they have undertaken as part of the Treaty’s
review process.
While the disappointing outcome of the 2005 Review Conference does not
signal the Treaty’s demise, a failed conference in 2010 may have more
disastrous implications. Successful preparation for the 2010 conference
will not only require strong political will at the highest level, but it
will also require innovative and constructive approaches to find common
ground. Collective efforts by and strong leadership among states parties
in close cooperation with civil society will be key in achieving this
goal.
|
|