Official press release
The Netherlands is working towards non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, arms control and disarmament.

With 9 other countries, it took fresh steps to address this issue at a Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) meeting in New York yesterday. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Uri Rosenthal, said, "We must prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands, like those of terrorists, criminals and dangerous regimes."

Among the NPDI's initiatives is a proposal for a way countries with nuclear weapons can report on their arms stockpiles. A standard reporting form will simplify reporting, which in turn will improve transparency and make it easier to compare the data received.

In addition, the Netherlands and the other nine countries have offered to help the International Atomic Energy Agency convince other countries to sign an additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The protocol contains agreements on verification of nuclear material and installations to ensure that such materials are not used to create weapons.

The NPDI member states are also trying to get negotiations on the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) off the ground. This agreement prohibits the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons. Mr Rosenthal added that "non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament are parts of the same whole. International cooperation and trust are vital for progress. The Netherlands is giving this process new impetus."

Source: Government of the Netherlands