Australian, Japanese PMs launch nuclear commission

NEW YORK: The leaders of Australia and Japan on Thursday launched a commission to press for nuclear non proliferation and disarmament ahead of review of a key international atomic treaty. The International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament was unveiled by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and new Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The 15-member panel is led by former Australian and Japanese foreign ministers Gareth Evans and Yoriko Kawaguchi respectively, and comprises former heads of state, ministers, military strategists and disarmament experts. It will seek to shape a global consensus in the lead up to the 2010 Nuclear Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference and beyond, Rudd said.

While being the most significant and successful arms control instrument of the nuclear age and the cornerstone of global disarmament efforts, the NPT "is facing increased pressure and strain from the actions of countries such as North Korea and Iran," he said.

Iran has been accused of carrying out an illegal nuclear program while North Korea has defiantly moved to restart its illicit nuclear activities after freezing them. "As the only country that experienced the bombing of a nuclear weapon, Japan has always undertaken a realistic and concrete approach towards realizing a nuclear weapons free world," said Aso, who assumed the premiership this week.

He urged the commission to hold "active" discussions and prepare "meaningful" recommendations for a more effective non-proliferation and disarmament regime. The implications of a likely "nuclear renaissance" due to climate change and energy security concerns will be a focus of the commission, including the need for renewed attention to nuclear safeguards, safety and security, it said in a statement.

The first meeting of the commission, hosted by the Australian Government, will be held in Sydney from October 19 to 21.
Among those in the commission are former Norwegian prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo, former US defense secretary William Perry, ex-Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas, China's ex-UN envoy Wang Yingfan.