NON-PROLIFERATION, ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT
Objectives in the field of non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament continue to be:
progress on the elimination of weapons of mass destruction; prevention of the further
proliferation of such weapons and the spread of the technology to deliver them; and confronting
the humanitarian tragedy caused by conventional weapons, such as small arms and light
weapons, landmines and explosive remnants of war.
The past year has seen a number of positive developments:
an Action Program agreed to at the July 2001 United Nations Conference on Small Arms
and Light Weapons; the launch of multilateral negotiations on an International Code of Conduct on ballistic
missiles; a constructive start of a new review cycle at the April 2002 Preparatory Committee
meeting of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); the May 24 signing of a bilateral Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty by the United
States and Russia as part of their new strategic relationship; and G8 work on an international financing plan for a plutonium disposition program in Russia
and other states of the former Soviet Union.
Despite this progress, the proliferation of weapons, including weapons of mass destruction
(WMD), has continued. Since their nuclear weapons tests in May 1998, India and Pakistan have
persisted in the development of their weapons programs, including the testing of ballistic
missiles. These have only exacerbated regional tensions. Another serious proliferation concern
is Iraq=s continued pursuit of its WMD programs and failure to comply with relevant UN Security
Council resolutions. The past year has also witnessed setbacks for the multilateral system
governing the WMD, such as the collapse of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
Review Conference, the continued log-jam in the Conference on Disarmament, and the lack of
progress toward entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty.
At Whistler, the foreign ministers are expected to review the current situation. They will examine
how the international community might address the continuing challenge of preventing weapons
proliferation by using a broad-based Atoolbox@ approach. The tools begin with ensuring the universality of legally binding multilateral instruments, and adhering to and complying with
international norms of good behaviour. Other tools include complementary bilateral instruments;
verification measures such as monitoring and inspections; export controls that deny the
technology and components necessary for weapons= programs; and the program aimed at
destroying excess plutonium stockpiles.
What the G8 has done
G8 foreign ministers have a long history of constructive discussions on these issues. These
discussions have served to underline the commitment of G8 members to the international non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament regime and their determination to promote
compliance with and the universality of the fundamental treaties related to the WMD. Their
discussions have led to the promotion of initiatives such as the disposition of weapons-grade
plutonium no longer required for defence purposes. They have also served to underscore the
international community=s efforts to raise humanitarian standards concerning conventional
weapons.
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