NPT Prep-Com: Ruth Mitchell & Dimity Hawkins' reports

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Nancy Atkin (MAPW)

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May 10, 2009, 9:12:48 PM5/10/09

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Dear all –

Our Vice-President Ruth Mitchell is reporting regularly from the NPT PrepCom – she’s written Thursday and Friday (New York time) reports since I was last in the office. http://icanw.blogspot.com/

As well as Ruth’s overviews on the blog, Dimity Hawkins is sending more detailed reports to ICAN: here is Dimity’s latest report written Thursday evening New York time.

AN AGREED AGENDA FOR 2010:

Just three days into the 10 day conference, on Wednesday there has been a broad agreement to an agenda for the 2010 NPT Review Conference (Revcon). If you haven’t followed the NPT in the past this may seem an obvious thing to happen, but what makes this remarkable is that at the last NPT RevCon (which runs over 4 weeks) they spent 2.5 weeks just trying to get an agreed agenda. This may not seem a big deal, but really it is. Nations now have the best part of this conference to define and refine their goals for the 2010 conference, set the substantive work schedule etc. And it means we NGOs can get on with making our own plans.

In some sense the adoption of the provisional agenda on day 3 demonstrates the cautious good will and optimism of governments at this PrepCom, amidst much talk of working towards a nuclear weapons free world. However there is a sense of cynicism and de ja vu about this too. In recent meetings with government in Canberra, it was noted that in some ways we are back to the late 1990s on nuclear disarmament negotiations, and the adoption of the agenda, which was almost entirely the same as that of the 2000 Review Conference, would indicate that this is true. You can find the agenda here: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/prepcom09/2010Agenda.pdf

The 2010 NPT Review Conference will be held from 3-28 May, 2010 in New York.

The Chair will be the Ambassador of the Philippines.

Given that it was the main ambition of the Chair of this Prepcom to settle on an agenda for the 2010 RevCon, we should all be able to come home now, but we can’t. The work of the conference in what is termed “cluster issues”, based on the three pillars of the NPT – disarmament, non-proliferation and the ‘peaceful’ uses of nuclear technology - continued over the last couple of days, and we are yet to get to my least favourite one, peaceful uses of nuke technology. The PrepCom also needs to get down and detailed about the real work on the organisation of the Review next year and tomorrow we anticipate some action on this with some recommendations coming from the Chair to be considered over the weekend.

AUSTRALIA WATCH:

On Wednesday Australia spoke to the Cluster One debate: see the statement here, noting on page three the passing mention of a nuclear weapons convention: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/prepcom09/statements/6MayC1_Australia.pdf

On Thursday Australia spoke on Cluster Two, verification and safeguards in the main: see here: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/prepcom09/statements/7MayC2_Australia.pdf

Head of Delegation John Sullivan came to the beginning of the session we had today on NPT and a NWC, where Randy Rydell (UN Office of Disarmament Affairs) and Mr Dhanapala (former Under Secretary of Disarmament Affairs at the UN, now President of Pugwash, and many other things) spoke, amongst others. Points for showing up there, though he wasn’t around for long.

SIDELINE EVENTS AND THE AIR IN THE ROOM:

NGO forums and side line events continue, and continue to amaze in many cases. These events give air to the rooms here, and some colour and movement though I hope to see much more energy and creativity by next year frankly.

All NGO presentations are online at www.reachingcriticalwill.org now, but in particular have a look at the Nuclear Weapons Convention which our very own Ruth Mitchell presented: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/prepcom09/ngostatements/NWC.pdf

Highlights for me have been a couple of sessions on ICAN work around the world (one of which I spoke at and another which I co-chaired with John Loretz from IPPNW) and having a brief chance to meet with Christie Brinkley who addressed a lunchtime session of the meeting beautifully on Wednesday. Thursday we saw Michael Douglas speak on a panel as well. So its been a star studded couple of days.

I am so impressed and encouraged by the resonance with which ICAN has been adopted, adapted or accepted by so many NGO friends around Europe in particular. We are so impressed by the high level of discussion amongst so many NGO participants on the nuclear weapons convention. They raise it and challenge governments on it at EVERY turn and opportunity, of which there are many.

Besides working hard on the delegation, Tilman addressed a Nuclear Age Peace Foundation meeting on Wednesday and Ruth has been busy working with NGO friends, especially those from the IPPNW world.

But it must be said that the drone in the tone of the meetings can at times dull even the most committed amongst us.

Reaching Critical Will celebrated its 10 year anniversary on tonight (Thursday night), which was a real achievement. I spoke again there, highlighting Felicity Hills role in creating this wonderful initiative, along with some high level government and UN personalities, showing the seriousness that RCW is viewed with now. The celebration was warm (literally and figuratively – the room was so packed with diplomats and high level officials as well as WILPF women and NGOs that people were sweating!) Its gratifying and immensely encouraging to see RCW so well respected after these 10 years. Notably a Nuclear Weapon State decided to put on a reception at the same time (coincidence?), so many of the UN people had to run, but they came first as a show of respect and support and they were very enthusiastic. If you have never visited the site, check it out here: www.reachingcriticalwill.org.