The Belarusian delegation led by Mikhail Khvastou, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Belarus in Geneva, is participating in the Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference within the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapon, press office of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
The purpose of the meeting is to evaluate the implementation of the NPT and to take recommendations on substantive and procedural issues in preparation for the 2015 Review Conference of the Treaty. It is planned to evaluate the implementation of the Action Plan in the field of nuclear disarmament, approved by the NPT Review Conference in 2010. Belarus took active part in preparation of the document.
On April 23, 2013 Belarusian side made a statement during the general debate of the meeting. It was emphasized that the Budapest memorandum of 1994 has a particular importance for our country. This document contains trilateral security assurances provided in connection with the Belarusian accession to the NPT and voluntary refusal of Belarus from the right to possess with nuclear weapons.
According to the Foreign Ministry, our delegation recalled that the Action Plan in the field of nuclear disarmament, approved by the NPT Review Conference in 2010, has the provisions that the nuclear-weapon States shall fully respect their existing commitments on security assurances to non-nuclear states.
“Three states – Great Britain, Russia and the USA – undertook a commitment to respect Belarus’ independence and sovereignty which includes waiving economic duress,” the statement says.
In this regard, the Belarusian side drew attention to the fact that “despite the repeatedly documented and confirmed pledges some nuclear powers, in practice, they are ignored, while continuing to apply the measures of economic and political pressure”.
Belsat
