@@ IAEA chief invalidates the NPT: If the NPT is so irrelevant, why is Iran being punished for abiding by it? @@
Arash
March 16, 2006
IAEA Chief Invalidates the NPT
By Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich
On December 10, 2005, the world equaled Mohamed ElBaradei’s surprise when he stepped
behind the podium and delivered his Nobel lecture. The following lines were not only
poignant but reassuring:
"Today, with globalization bringing us ever closer together, if we choose to
ignore the insecurities of some, they will soon become the insecurities of all.
Equally, with the spread of advanced science and technology, as long as some of us
choose to rely on nuclear weapons, we continue to risk that these same weapons will
become increasingly attractive to others. I have no doubt that, if we hope to escape
self-destruction, then nuclear weapons should have no place in our collective
conscience, and no role in our security. To that end, we must ensure – absolutely –
that no more countries acquire these deadly weapons. We must see to it that
nuclear-weapon states take concrete steps towards nuclear disarmament. And we must
put in place a security system that does not rely on nuclear deterrence". [1]
Perhaps what takes us aback today is his utter silence, nay, even his approval of the
Bush-India deal. Was India off his radar? Or is he, like Bush, a fan of democracies
having nuclear weapons? Mayhap this should have been made clear in his otherwise
eloquent speech.
Are democracies not accountable for proliferation? Leonard Spector has more concern
that the IAEA and its chief, judging from his statement before the House
International Relations Committee….
“India did not have an “unambiguous record of compliance with its nuclear
transfer programme” adding that “all of us in this room” know that India did not meet
this test. “Indeed, at this very moment, I consider India to be violating a core
international commitment applying to civilian nuclear transfers it has received, by
using restricted plutonium for its nuclear weapons programme”. [2]
But although ElBaradei’s speech was well-rehearsed, our surprise was not, for his was
delivered to conceal his audience-free endorsement of a threatening deal. The IAEA
chief had this to say of the US-India deal that threatens global proliferation and
security:
“Making advanced civil nuclear technology available to all countries will
contribute to the enhancement of nuclear safety and security”. (Murphy [3]).
The deal ElBaradei so enthusiastically embraced, would make the United States a
violator of "Article III" of the NPT [4]. Since India has clearly refused to halt the
production of fissile material for nuclear weapons, Bush-India deal clearly indicates
a nuclear build-up/proliferation which the Chief of the IAEA applauds. As chief of
the IAEA, endorsing proliferation, rewarding ‘pariah’ states, breaking international
law, and in short, nullifying the NPT, Mohammed ElBaradei has been rewarded with a
Nobel Peace prize!
Indeed, if one were to follow India’s trail alone, one would recognize that the heavy
water reactors which enabled that country to detonate its first atomic bomb in 1974
nicknamed the “Smiling Buddha” were supplied by the U.S. and Canada – thus the
creation of the ‘peaceful’ atomic bomb [5]. It may be that democracies can give each
other nuclear bombs in line with the Kantian theory that democracies don’t go to war
with each other.
So, it begs the question, if the NPT is so irrelevant, why is Iran being punished for
abiding by it? What has prompted the Chief to refer Iran to the UN Security Council?
Perhaps the world community is right in assuming Iran has ambitions. Maybe it too,
wants a Nobel Peace prize.
Notes:
--------
[1] Mohamed ElBaradei – Nobel Lecture
http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/2005/elbaradei-lecture-en.html
[2] Hasan, Khalid. “Indo-US nuclear deal comes under sharp criticism in Congress”.
Daily Times. Oct. 28, 2005.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005%5C10%5C28%5Cstory_28-10-2005_pg7_45
[3] Murphy, Francois. “UN Atomic Chief Says Supports US-India Nuke Deal”. Israel
Reuters UK. 20 July 2005.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=986231&C=asiapac
[4] Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
Article III
http://www.un.org/events/npt2005/npttreaty.html
http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Documents/Treaties/npt.html
[5] Canadian complicity in nuclear proliferation
http://www.rabble.ca/babble/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=13&t=001500
http://www.payvand.com/news/06/mar/1143.html