TOKYO - Nuclear experts and diplomats from 20 nations looked on Tuesday at ways to punish countries deserting the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, at the end of a two-day meeting here on strengthening the pact.
| Expect a strongly-worded statement any time now ... |
The 40 delegates held closed-door talks ahead of a May conference in New York to review the nonproliferation treaty, which North Korea pulled out of in 2003 to world shock. Iran is also in a nuclear standoff. "Some participants argued we should increase the costs of withdrawal for a deserting country" by requiring them to return materials and equipment received for peaceful use of atomic power upon joining the treaty, a Japanese government official said, adding Tokyo backed the proposal.
Other ideas discussed included holding an emergency general meeting to step up international pressure on a runaway nation and a ban on pullout by a country which has failed to abide by the pact, the official said. Many participants shared a concern that some countries may be engaging in nuclear enrichment and reprocessing under the pretext of peaceful use and pull out of the treaty when they are ready to produce weapons, he said.
| At which point "international pressure" is unlikely to mean anything, but go ahead, this makes sense to someone, I'm sure ... |
"As for the issue of non-compliance, participants mainly discussed nuclear activity of Iran," he said.
Nuclear powers Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States took part in the talks, according to an updated official list. However, declared nuclear weapons states India and Pakistan did not attend. Iran and North Korea were also absent. |