Australia hosts nuclear talks.10/20/2008 7:17:48 AM A new international nuclear non-proliferation body has met in Australia to discuss ways to curb the spread of nuclear weapons, although no breakthroughs were immediately announced.Representatives from more than a dozen countries including the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and China met for the first meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation on Monday. The two-day meeting comes after US and India signed a key nuclear treaty and North Korea's threatened to resume its nuclear programme in defiance of a six-nation disarmament pact. Monday's meeting was co-chaired by Gareth Evans Gareth Evans may refer to:
Evans, who now heads the Brussels-based non-governmental organisation the International Crisis Group, said reining in the spread of nuclear weapons was as serious an issue the global financial crisis. "It's a problem of the same magnitude, but capturing zero attention," The Australian newspaper quoted him as saying. The 15-member body was initiated in June by Kevin Rudd  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. , the
Australian prime minister, following a visit to the Japanese city of
Hiroshima, the site of the world's first atomic attack.
Rudd proposed the commission because he felt that the current Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) officially Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons International agreement intended to prevent the spread of nuclear technology. It was signed by the U.S. (NPT NPT National Pipe Taper (pipe thread specification) NPT Non-Proliferation Treaty NPT Nonprofit Times NPT Newport (Rhode Island) NPT Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty NPT Neath Port Talbot ) was falling apart. 'Right timing' Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Stephen Smith, the Australian foreign minister, said he was hopeful of progress in disarmament talks disarmament talks npl → conversaciones fpl de or sobre desarme . "We think the timing might just be right for some success in this area," he said on Monday. "It's a very strong commission." Smith said the Australian government would give $2.66m to the commission which aims to "shape a global consensus" on improving the NPT before the 40-year-old agreement which has yet to be signed by India, Pakistan or Israel, comes up for review in 2010. "We see this as a genuine second track, or non-government dialogue which will encourage a sharp focus by the international community on short-term good results from the NPT conference but also to start moving forward again on nuclear disarmament." Smith added that it was the Australian government's long-term objective to ensure that the manufacture and possession of nuclear weapons ends. The commissioners include William Perry, the former US secretary of defence, and Gro Harlem Brundtland Gro Harlem Brundtland (IPA: /gru hɑɭɛm brʉntlɑn/ , the former Norwegian prime minister. The joint Australia-Japan venture also includes former senior diplomats from Russia, France, Pakistan, the US, China and six other countries. [c] Aljazeera.net 2003 - 2008 Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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