Main committees for nuclear review conference unable to agree on texts

The month-long conference at the United Nations reviewing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) heads into the final hours of its work with its main committees unable to agree on the texts they have been considering.

The 188 nations meeting in New York were trying to reach agreement in three committees that cover the three pillars of the 35-year-old accord – disarmament, verification of safeguards on national nuclear programmes and the peaceful use of atomic energy. But the conference will end tomorrow with no progress in the committees.

Main Committee I was unable to agree on nuclear disarmament and security assurances, and Main Committee II failed to reach consensus on safeguards, regional issues and the Middle East.

The Drafting Committee is continuing its work today on a final document for the conclusion of review conference tomorrow.