NPT PrepCom 2012: First week recap

Source: http://www.unvienna.org/unov/en/vic.html

The nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) preparatory committee meeting started in Vienna, Austria on 30 April 2012.  This two-week meeting will consider key issues related to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Once again, African states are making a positive contribution through statements and active participation during debates. The following African countries made statements during the general debate:

• Egypt, Mr. Ahmed Fathalla, First Under-Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Morocco, Mr. Ali El Mhamdi, Permanent Representative to the UN Vienna
• Burkina Faso, Mr. Paul Robert Tiendrebeogo, Permanent Representative to the UN Vienna
• South Africa, Mr. Xolisa Mabhongo, Permanent Representative to the UN Geneva
• Algeria, Ms. Taous Feroukhi, Permanent Representative to the UN Vienna
• Namibia
• Nigeria
• Libya, Mr. Mohamed S.N. Shelli, Deputy Director, Department of the International Organizations

African states also made general statements as members of the following groups:

• New Agenda Coalition, Mr. Abdul S. Minty of South Africa
• Non-Aligned Movement, Mr. Ahmed Fathalla, First Under-Secretary Ministry of Foriegn Affairs of Egypt
• African Union, Mr. Tarek A. Sharif, Head, Defense and Security, Department of Peace and Security

Cluster I (Nuclear Disarmament) also commenced in week one, with the following African states making statements:

• Non-Aligned Movement 
• New Agenda Coalition, Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo 
• South Africa, Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, Permanent Representative to the IAEA 
• Sudan 
• Egypt, Mr. Sameh AboulEnein, Deputy Assistant Minister for Disarmament Affairs 
• Algeria

South Africa and the Non-Aligned Movement also made statements during a session on a specific issue: nuclear disarmament and security assurances.

NGOs were also provided with a platform to address the delegations and several organisations, including the New Agenda Coalition NGOs (which includes ISS) made statements at this year's PrepCom.

For more information on the NPT PrepCom, visit Reaching Critical Will's PrepCom page HERE