The review conference on the non-proliferation of nuclear
weapons (NPT) ended in New York on Saturday, May 20. The issues
at the conference were not comparable to those at the 1995
conference which had to decide on the NPT extension, which it
did moreover for an indefinite period. It was however important
to reach a consensus at this new review conference on the
resolve of all the states parties (there are 187) to continue to
observe their commitments.  The document adopted covers all
aspects of the treaty (disarmament, non-proliferation and
peaceful uses of atomic energy) and includes elements in review
and perspectives.  The European Union had agreed on a common
position.  The five nuclear powers issued a joint message at the
start of the conference, at France’s initiative and through our
voice, expressing their unequivocal resolve to further the
objectives of nuclear disarmament and general and complete
disarmament in response to the call by the non-nuclear weapon
states.  The commitments by the nuclear po