Russia has been accused of “obstructing” the 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and preventing the international community from reaching consensus on nuclear proliferation.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong media release On August 28, he said Russia’s actions at the Review Conference were obstructive and challenged the core tenets on which the NPT was founded.
“After four weeks of negotiations in New York, all parties except Russia have agreed to a meaningful and balanced outcome on the treaty’s three pillars: disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. I was ready to do it,” said Wong. “Russia has deliberately impeded progress. Its actions directly challenge the core tenets of the NPT.”
The NPT was first signed in 1970. Upon its implementation, the signatories decided that he would review the treaty every five years. The final one was scheduled for 2020. However, due to pandemic restrictions, it has been postponed until 2022.
Mr Wong also said the Australian government was disappointed that it had not been able to reach consensus given the current state of the international security environment. All states have agreed to ban Russia.
“At the heart of the NPT is the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons, and Australia remains deeply committed to that goal,” he said. “Regardless of this outcome, the treaty continues to bring tangible safety benefits to all of us.”
Wong also called on the international community to redouble its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.
Russia accuses West of holding NPT hostage
Wong’s comments came after Andrei Belousov, deputy head of the Russian delegation, said Russia would not support the draft agreement and accused other delegations of anti-Russian stances in his closing remarks. rice field.
“Having pushed their priorities into the draft final document, these states have done all they can to ensure that issues important to other delegations are left out,” Belousov said on August 26. .
“The conference has become a political hostage to countries that over the past four weeks have poisoned the debate with their politicized, biased, baseless and false statements about Ukraine. Throughout the review process, we have done all we can to prevent constructive, effective and result-oriented work of the Conference and of the NPT Parties as a whole.
“A major issue in the draft treaty is the Russian occupation of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), and the head of the Russian delegation said that the “barbaric shelling” of the Ukrainian Defense Forces would “bring the world to a nuclear crisis.” disaster. “
He also accused the countries concerned of focusing on the Ukraine issue and using the Review Conference to “settle issues with Russia by raising issues not directly related to the treaty.”
“Such an approach by these states runs counter to the NPT priority of creating an international environment conducive to progress towards nuclear disarmament, which requires joint efforts by nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear-weapon states.” he said. “These countries, namely Ukraine and supporters of the Kyiv regime, take full responsibility for the lack of a final positive result of this review.”
US Calls on Russia to End ‘Selection War’
On the other hand, U.S. Ambassador Adam Scheinman gave his closing remarks (pdf) said at the conference that the United States was aware that the draft treaty was not complete and underestimated the risk of radiation hazards from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
“Let’s be clear: Russia is a country that has undermined all three pillars of the NPT through its actions in Ukraine. Russia is a country that has aggressed in violation of a sovereign state.
It is contrary to the UN Charter and contrary to the security guarantees given to Ukraine under the Budapest Memorandum.Russia said that the war was in Europe, Ukraine and
Our people are at risk of radiation hazards,” Scheinman said.
The Ukrainian government has demanded that Russian troops leave Zaporizhia, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleva has called on Russia to withdraw from the factory.
“For decades nuclear safety has remained Ukraine’s top priority, especially given our tragic past,” Kuleva wrote on Twitter. , turned the Zaporizhia NPP into a military base, endangering the entire continent. The Russian army has to leave the factory – they have nothing to do there!”
For decades, nuclear safety has been Ukraine’s top priority. Especially given our tragic past. Russian invaders turned the Zaporizhia NPP into a military base, endangering the entire continent. The Russian army has to leave the factory – they have nothing to do there!
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) August 28, 2022
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Victoria Kelly-Clark is an Australia-based reporter focusing on the national politics and geopolitical environment in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Central Asia.