NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP PLENARY MEETING PUBLIC STATEMENT
Nuclear Suppliers Group Plenary
Seattle, United States, 21-22 June 2012
SEATTLE, WA - The twenty-second Plenary Meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) took place in Seattle on 21 and 22 June 2012. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman of the United States, who expressed the deep commitment of the United States to the goals and success of the NSG.
The NSG brings together 46 Participating Governments[1] with the European Commission and the Chair of the Zangger Committee participating as permanent observers.[2] The Group aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation on a national basis of export controls for nuclear and nuclear-related material, “dual use” material, equipment, software and technology, without hindering international cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The Honorable William Magwood, Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, made an opening statement on behalf of the United States Government. Commissioner Magwood expressed support for the framework provided by the NSG Guidelines for mutual cooperation, observation of nonproliferation principles, and the importance of nuclear safety and security.
The NSG took stock of developments since the last meeting in Noordwijk in 2011.
Participating Governments reiterated their firm support for the full, complete and effective implementation of the NPT. They further emphasized that many challenges remain to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. In particular:
- Participating Governments exchanged information on positive and negative developments in the nuclear non-proliferation regime; they also focused on specific regions and countries of concern.
- Within the framework of the NSG’s mandate, concerns were shared about the proliferation implications of the nuclear programmes of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran. The NSG reiterated its long-standing support for diplomatic efforts for a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue based on the NPT and the full implementation by Iran of United Nations (UN) Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors Resolutions, and for a solution to the DPRK nuclear issue in a peaceful manner consistent with the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party talks.
- Participating Governments called on all states to exercise vigilance and make best efforts to ensure that none of their exports of goods or technologies contribute to nuclear weapons programs.
The Group took note of briefings on outreach to non-NSG participants. It agreed on the value of ongoing consultation and transparency.
The NSG noted the need to address proliferation concerns without hampering legitimate trade and reaffirmed the importance of licensing and enforcement based on NSG Guidelines and control lists.
The NSG therefore:
- approved an amendment to Part One of the NSG Guidelines in relation to access to nuclear material for peaceful purposes;
- emphasized the importance of keeping its lists up to date with technological developments and took stock of the ongoing fundamental review process of the Trigger and Dual-Use Lists including the approved changes to reactors and isotope separation;
- approved a paper to guide the NSG’s outreach programme;
- continued to consider all aspects of the implementation of the 2008 Statement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation with India and discussed the NSG relationship with India;
- noted the utility of industry engagement and approved revising the guidance on such efforts;
- discussed brokering and transit and agreed to consider these matters further;
- discussed and exchanged information and best practices on licensing and enforcement;
- agreed to revise and update the NSG’s website; and
- agreed that it would update INFCIRC/539 “The Nuclear Suppliers Group: Its Origins, Role and Activities".
[1] Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation,
Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United
Kingdom, and United States
[2] Mexico and Serbia were welcomed as observers for this Plenary
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