New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Te Mangai 0 Aotearoa
600THIRDAVENUE 14~ FLOOR NEWYORK.NY100161901 USATELEPHONE (212) 8261960 FACSIMILE (212) 758 0827 HOMEPAGE http/lwww nzembassy~com/newyork

2010 REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE TREATY ON THE
NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
3-28 MAY 2010

GENERAL DEBATE

STATEMENT BY HON GEORGINA TE HEUHEU,MINISTER FOR DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROLON BEHALF OFCHILE, MALAYSIA, NIGERIA, SWITZERLAND AND NEW ZEALAND

4 MAY 2010CHECK AGAINST DELIVERYMr President,I take the floor on behalf of Chile, Malaysia, Nigeria, Switzerland and my own
country, New Zealand, on the issue of decreasing the operational readiness ofnuclear weapons systems
Since 2007 our countries have called for action to address the significant
numbers of nuclear weapons that still exist today at high levels of readiness.
Our countries believe there is an urgent need for action to address thissituation
It remains of deep and abiding concern to us that twenty years after the end of
the Cold War, doctrinal aspects from that era - such as high alert levels - areperpetuated today.
While there have been marked improvements in theinternational security climate since the end of the Cold War, commensurate
decreases in the alert levels of nuclear weapons have not been forthcoming.

We share wholeheartedly the sentiment expressed by US President Obama in
Prague last year of the need to put an end to Cold War thinking
This
Conference has an unprecedented opportunity to achieve progress in thisregardCertainly, we welcome recent reductions in the numbers of nuclear weapons.
What would also be welcome would be increased recognition that high levels ofalert of those nuclear weapons that remain are disproportionate to the current
strategic situation. We are naturally disappointed that recent reviews of nuclear
doctrine have not resulted in lowered levels of alert. We are encouraged,
however, that the door has been left open for further work in this area.
A lowered operational readiness of nuclear weapon systems would represent
an important interim step towards the vision of a nuclear-weapon free world. It
would demonstrate a palpable commitment to a diminishing role for nuclear
weapons. In addition, steps to lengthen the decision-making "fuse" for thelaunch of any nuclear attack would minimise the risk of unintended use or use inerror.
These benefits were recognised by all States parties at the 2000 Review
Conference. Amongst the practical steps adopted by consensus at thatmeeting, it was agreed that concrete measures to further reduce the operational
status of nuclear weapons systems would promote international stability and at
the same time serve the cause of nuclear disarmament. Our countries will beworking purposefully for an outcome on operational readiness that builds on the2000 result. We have submitted working paper NPT/CONF.2010IWP.10 to thisend.

Mr President.
As our working paper outlines, action to lower the operational readiness of
nuclear weapon systems is consistent with the imperative expressed in the firstpreambular paragraph of the Treaty to make every effort to avert the danger ofnuclear war and to safeguard the security of peoples from the devastation ofsuch conflict.
With this in mind, our countries look forward to working with all delegations
towards the achievement of a robust outcome on operational readiness here in
New York. You can be assured, Mr President, of our group's wholehearted
support as you guide us towards such an outcome.