GENEVA (Thomson Financial) - The five major nuclear powers on Friday put up
a concerted proliferation front against Iran, insisting that its nuclear
programme remains a grave concern.
China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States issued a statement
which named Iran and expressed strong support for the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons treaty (NPT), which many see as under attack.
British Ambassador John Duncan delivered the statement, saying: "The
proliferation of nuclear weapons undermines the security of all nations,
imperils prospects for progress on other important NPT goals such as nuclear
disarmament, and hurts prospects for expanding international nuclear
cooperation.
"The proliferation risks presented by the Iranian nuclear programme continue
to be a matter of ongoing serious concern to us."
Christopher Ford, U.S. special representative on nuclear affairs, said it is
the first time that the five nations have issued a statement during preparatory
committee talks and that such statements are usually issued only during the
review conference.
Last week, a non-profit organisation that aims to reduce nuclear danger
pointed out that some 300 more nuclear facilities are planned at a time when key
treaties that have helped to maintain nuclear peace are running out.
As countries seek fuel alternatives with little environmental impact, some
are turning to nuclear energy, which emits no greenhouse gases, said the group.
"The tragedy is that this move to nuclear power.. coincides with the
crumbling of much of regulatory structure over nuclear power -- not nuclear
civil power but weapons power," said Shirley Williams, a member of the board of
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).
tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomsonreuters.com
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