Nearly a decade has passed since the NPT was indefinitely extended—ten years that have witnessed the testing of nuclear weapons by two states outside the regime; growing distress over proliferation of technology, materials and knowledge as well as lack of progress in disarmament; widespread alarm about the possibilities of nuclear or radiological terrorism; and unresolved ambiguities about some nuclear programmes. There appears to be little agreement within the international community on how to respond to these issues. Some critics have suggested that the NPT is no longer able to cope with proliferation challenges and that new responses are merited. Others defend the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime as sufficient, only hampered by states parties through its selective implementation.

This issue of Disarmament Forum examines the state of the regime, looking ahead to the 2005 NPT Review Conference. Articles focus on recent developments, questions concerning supply networks, the value of new responses such as voluntary measures, safeguards and how to strengthen the NPT.

Citation: Kerstin Vignard (ed.) (2004). "Disarmament Forum: the 2005 NPT Review Conference", UNIDIR, Geneva.

Disponible aussi en français.

Contents

  • Editor’s note, Kerstin Vignard
  • Preserving the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Mohamed Elbaradei
  • Is the NPT up to the challenge of proliferation? Rebecca Johnson
  • Strengthening non-proliferation rules and norms—the three-state problem, George Perkovich
  • A.Q. Khan and the Limits of the Non-proliferation Regime, Christopher Clary
  • IAEA Safeguards and the NPT, Ben Sanders
  • Voluntary action in the fight against weapons of mass destruction, Rose Gottemoeller
  • Contextualizing past, present and future challenges to the NPT regime, Rhianna Tyson
  • Background information concerning the NPT, compiled by Anne Marrillet
  • UNIDIR Focus