New York, 4 August 2022 (TDI): The Director for Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation of Austria, Alexander Kmentt, urged the states to pledge to strengthen non-proliferation efforts around the globe in his statement on the 2nd day of the review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in New York.
🇦🇹Austria’s key points at #NPTRevCon General Debate:
1⃣ Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons necessitate progress on disarmament
2⃣ All nuclear threats are unacceptable, especially by 🇷🇺 in its war against 🇺🇦
3⃣ Need to strengthen non-proliferation efforts around the 🌍 pic.twitter.com/fbcLH3aY7K— Austria UN 💙💛 (@AustriaUN) August 2, 2022
Alexander Kmentt , who also served as the 1st President of the 1st Meeting of States Parties of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in June 2022, showed his concern about the growing re-emphasis on nuclear weapons development.
Remarks:
Referring to the risks of the beliefs on the concept of nuclear deterrence, Alexander Kmentt said that “We are at a threshold moment.”
“We are on track towards nuclear arms race dynamic and much-increased proliferation pressures, with dramatic negative effects for international security,” he added.
Furthermore, “the growing modernization, increase in the arsenal, improving capabilities, reducing transparency and adding nuclear use cases” is a clear violation of the commitments and obligations of the NPT.
The rhetoric of nuclear usability is “disconcerting.” It goes against the question of global security, therefore, a violation of the UN charter and international law, which, “Austria categorically rejects and condemns any and all nuclear threats, whether they be explicit or implicit and irrespective of the circumstances.”
“Portraying nuclear weapons as essential for national security is a dangerous proliferation driver,” he added.
On the Treaty of the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons:
Austria is one of the 191 important signatories of the NPT and one of the 50 states to sign TPNW.
Regarding the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, the official representative of Austria at the conference urged the states to join TPNW and stand together to “reduce the nuclear risks imposed on all humanity.”
TPNW is the first legally binding international agreement to prohibit nuclear weapons comprehensively.
He also discussed the lack of implementation of the NPT.
In his address, he highlighted that “13000 weapons remain in the possession of nine possessor states that all have security doctrines setting out use or threat of use cases” which poses a huge threat to humanity.
He proposed that nuclear weapon states initiate a dialogue that “go beyond strategic considerations and encompassing all relevant measures to minimize use and accident potentials as far as possible.”.
In addition to that, he also urged the states to avoid “the precarious notion of international security that is based on threatening mass killing and destruction.”
Condemning Russia’s irresponsible nuclear threats:
While addressing the conference, Alexander Kmentt condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine.
In his statement, he said that Russia’s constant threats are shaking the foundations of the NPT commitments, which is “irresponsible and unacceptable.”
Nuclear deterrence, he added, is based on the threat of “actual use of nuclear weapon” which, he emphasized, inflicts catastrophic consequences on the world.
Climate change:
On the 2nd day of the 10th review conference of NPT, Austria takes a clear stand on the useful production of nuclear energy.
Alexander Kmentt, in his statement, cleared his position that nuclear energy production does not seem to be compatible with the concept of sustainable development “nor a viable nor a cost-efficient option to combat climate change.”
He further stressed that humanity is at great existential risk which is “catastrophic climate change, a worldwide pandemic, and risks of nuclear war.”
He elaborated that the solutions to all these threats will be found when we “start acting together.”
