International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Mohamed ElBaradei has called on governments to make advance preparations for May’s 2005 Review Conference of the parties to the UN Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Listing a series of ‘fixes’ to tighten global controls, ElBaradei said some of these “can be made in May, but only if governments are ready to act.” No amendment to the treaty would be required, he added, but suggested steps include a five-year moratorium on building new uranium enrichment and plutonium separation facilities, and hastening the conversion of highly-enriched uranium research reactors to low-enriched uranium systems. ElBaradei also wants governments to prepare to allow increased access for IAEA inspectors to nuclear sites and swift Security Council action if a country withdraws from the NPT.
