LAUNCH OF THE REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION AND DISARMAMENT “ELIMINATING NUCLEAR THREATS”
The Report of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, "Eliminating Nuclear Threats: A Practical Agenda for Global Policymakers", was presented on 15 December in Tokyo to the Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan, their excellencies Kevin Rudd and Yukio Hatoyama, by the Commission Co-Chairs, former foreign ministers Gareth Evans and Yoriko Kawaguchi.
On 17 December, the Embassies of Australia and Japan presented a copy of the report to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. Both Embassies noted the important contribution made by former Chinese Ambassador Wang Yingfan, one of the 15 ICNND Commissioners.
While the ICNND report is the work of an independent Commission and hence does not represent the views of the Australian or Japanese Governments, both countries welcomed the report as an important contribution to the nuclear debate, particularly in the lead up to the May 2010 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference. In accepting the report, the Chinese Government said it also hoped the work of the ICNND would make an important contribution to the NPT Review Conference and to ongoing debates on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said of the ICNND report:
“Speaking for Australia, we welcome the fact that a report of such substance has been produced to provide such an important framework for practical discussions on how to advance this great cause of non-proliferation and disarmament, in what will be a critical year for the world.”
The full report and its synopsis can be accessed at www.icnnd.org.
A Chinese version of the synopsis will be available soon.
Media enquiries: contact the Australian Embassy: 5140 4246