DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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new military characteristics, while some advanced plans to modernize their
nuclear-weapon research and development infrastructure.
Other States continued to step up efforts to fully implement the
commitments agreed to at the 2010 NPT Review Conference and to advance
the broader nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation agenda. The 10-nation3 Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Initiative continued their
engagement, including at the ministerial level, to maintain the momentum of
the 2010 NPT Review Conference and to expedite its implementation. From
February to July, Kazakhstan convened the Nuclear Discussion Forum in
New York to engage in an in-depth discourse on nuclear non-proliferation,
disarmament and security issues. Following from the United Nations
Secretary-General’s five-point proposal for nuclear disarmament, 4 which he
articulated in 2008, a group of countries led by Uruguay continued to explore
ways to elaborate a road map for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons,
including by means of a universal, legal instrument.
The international community continued to consolidate existing nuclearweapon-free
zones. In March, the State Duma of the Russian Federation
approved the ratification of the protocols to the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free
Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty) 5 with reservations. In May, United States
President Barack Obama submitted the protocols to the Pelindaba Treaty and
to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty6 to the United States Senate
for advice and consent to ratification. Also in May, the First Ordinary Session
of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy, established pursuant to the
Pelindaba Treaty, convened in Addis Ababa. In November, the States parties
to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Bangkok Treaty) 7
and the NWS concluded negotiations that would enable the NWS to accede to
the Protocol to the Treaty.
Preparations continued in support of a conference in 2012 on the
establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other
weapons of mass destruction. In October, the Secretary-General, together
with the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, in
consultation with the States of the region, announced the appointment of
Jaakko Laajava, Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Finland, as facilitator and the designation of Finland as the host Government
for the conference.
3 Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and
United Arab Emirates.
4 Available from http://www.un.org/disarmament/WMD/Nuclear/sg5point.shtml (accessed
9 May 2012).
5 The treaty text and status of adherence are available from http://disarmament.un.org/
treaties/ (accessed 7 May 2012).
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.