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FM Spindelegger: “Vienna-based competence centre for a world free from nuclear weapons” |
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Foreign Minister meets with Co-Chairs of International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament.
Vienna, 5 July 2010 – “States, international organisations and civil
society must cooperate more closely in matters of nuclear disarmament
and non-proliferation. I am delighted that the Action Plan on Nuclear
Disarmament elaborated by Austria, which was adopted by all NPT states
at the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May, is also
recognised by such an important and independent body of experts as the
Evans-Kawaguchi Commission. Imperative now is to ensure the swift and
comprehensive implementation of the Action Plan, which is only possible
through the close co-operation of committed states, pertinent
international organisations and representatives of civil society,”
stated Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger following his meeting with
the former Foreign Ministers of Japan and Australia, Yoriko Kawaguchi
and Gareth Evans, in their function as co-chairmen of the International
Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND).
“We have seen in the past how successful close co-operation in the field
of disarmament can be: both the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on
Cluster Munitions were genuine joint projects,” continued the Foreign
Minister. “Austria was instrumental in these endeavours and now aims to
make a firm contribution to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation:
Austria supports the establishment of a competence centre for nuclear
disarmament and non-proliferation in Vienna in order to strengthen civil
society active in this area. This centre shall provide NGOs with the
opportunity to network as well as establish closer links with the
Vienna-based international organisations operating in this field, such
as the Atomic Energy Agency and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
Organisation. This security policy think-tank would further strengthen
Vienna’s role as a centre of global nuclear security,” affirmed
Spindelegger.
Professor Gareth Evans and Yoriko Kawaguchi, a member of Japan’s House
of Councillors, have headed the ICNND since its foundation in July 2008.
The Commission is not only a forum for eminent figures from the world
of politics and academia, but also leads an active dialogue with
governments, parliaments and individual citizens. The ICNND Report
entitled Eliminating Nuclear Threats provided valuable ideas for the
preparation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference held in
New York in May 2010, thus making a decisive contribution to the success
of the Conference. The Commission met for a final meeting in Vienna on
3rd and 4th July, at which it discussed the results of the Review
Conference as well as the future steps required to implement the ICNND
Report.
Contact:
Federal Ministry for
European and international Affairs
Press Department
Tel.: ++43 (0) 50 1150-3262, 4549, 4550
Fax: ++43 (0) 50 1159-213
mailto:abti3(at)bmeia.gv.at
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