DATE=5/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N NUCLEAR WEAPONS CONFERENCE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262585
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Organizations monitoring a U-N sponsored 
conference on nuclear weapons expressed satisfaction 
today (Friday) over a pledge from the world's five 
major nuclear weapons countries. VOA Correspondent 
Breck Ardery reports from the United Nations. 


TEXT:  During much of the month-long conference, the 
non-governmental groups monitoring the sessions have 
been critical of what they saw as lack of progress 
toward nuclear disarmament.  But on Thursday, the five 
major nuclear powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia 
and the United States - pledged what they call an 
"unequivocal undertaking" to totally eliminate atomic 
weapons.

Felicity Powers of the Women's International League 
for Peace and Freedom told reporters the pledge marks 
a milestone.

            ///Powers act///

      This is a first inasmuch as the nuclear weapons 
      states have committed to the total elimination 
      of their arsenals.  Another noteworthy thing in 
      this forward-looking plan, is the principle of 
      irreversibility to apply to nuclear disarmament, 
      meaning that once reductions have been made, the 
      arsenals will not be built up again.

            ///end act///


However, the five major nuclear powers set no 
timetable for the total elimination of their weapons 
and some representatives of non-governmental groups 
say that is a major weakness of the pledge. Jean 
McSorely of Greenpeace International is skeptical 
about the sincerity of the pledge.

            ///McSorely act///

      None of those countries are committing the same 
      amount of energy or intellectual and financial 
      resources to getting rid of nuclear weapons that 
      they are committing to retaining them and, in 
      some cases, developing and modernizing them.


            ///end act///

Ms. McSorely says Greenpeace wants to see legally-
binding commitments to the total elimination of 
nuclear weapons.

The U-N conference, held every five years, is an 
effort to review progress in implementation of the 
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968, which has 
been signed by 187 nations.  (Signed)

NEB/UN/BA/ENE/KBK



19-May-2000 15:39 PM EDT (19-May-2000 1939 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.