NPT Conference

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Despite the foreboding situation the 1985 review conference did suc­ceed in achieving a final declara­tion by consensus. The parties de­clared their conviction that the NPT is essential to international peace and security and reaffirmed their continued support for the objectives of the Treaty – to prevent the pro­liferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices, to halt and reverse the nuclear arms race, and to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The critical issue on which the conference came close to foundering was the failure of the three nuclear powers (U.S.,U.K., USSR) to meet the requirements of Art. VI to achieve a comprehensive test ban and a cessa­tion of the arms race “at an early date”. Because of US opposition to a test ban, a vote was avoided. Be­cause of its policy of solidarity with the US on the question Of pre­venting the spread of nuclear wea­pons, the USSR also wanted to achieve consensus and avoid a vote.

Negotiations conducted by Ambas­sador Garcia Robles (Mexico) for the neutral and non-aligned states and Lewis Dunn of the US led to the adoption of the final declaration by consensus.

– William Epstein (Copies of the final document are available from the national office.)

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