Last Friday in New York, the 188 countries participating in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference adopted an outcome document, stating that the 2012 conference would consider the possibility of creating a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.

The Netherlands is satisfied that, after ten years, there is now an action plan on non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear technology. ‘This reaffirms the importance of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Treaty’s central role in non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear technology should be abundantly clear to all,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen in an initial response to the conclusions of the conference.

In the minister’s opinion, the outcome reflects renewed international efforts in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation over the past year. The formulation of specific action points on all three of the Treaty’s pillars is an unprecedented result. Among other things, these actions underscore obligations related to disarmament in pursuit of a world free of nuclear weapons. The document also stresses the importance of the UN’s nuclear watchdog organisation, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.

The Netherlands would have preferred stronger and more specific language on some of the points as well as a more forceful call for countries like Iran to comply with their international obligations. But on the other hand, a step has been taken toward the possibility of nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. In the view of the Netherlands, the text could have been more balanced in describing the challenges facing the region. ‘It is curious that Israel is mentioned by name, while a country like Iran is not,’ said the minister. ‘This does not, however, alter the overall importance of this document and the result we now have.’

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