NPT meet ends without an outcome

A preliminary meeting on revising the NPT ended without reaching a conclusion on global nuclear disputes due to objections from Iran.

A preliminary meeting on revising the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has ended without reaching a final statement on global nuclear disputes due to objections from Iran and other nations.

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A chairman's summary was issued at the end of the two-week conference on Friday, expressing "serious concern" over Iran's nuclear programme and urging Tehran to take immediate actions to stop enrichment activities as demanded by resolutions from the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The summary stressed that the issue should be resolved through diplomatic efforts and negotiations.

It points out that a solution to the Iranian issue would contribute to the objective of establishing a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction.

Regarding the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, the document states that the conference was concerned about the nuclear programme of the North Korea and its declared nuclear test in October 2006.

Those were "not only a clear threat to global security, but also a serious challenge to the nuclear non-proliferation regime", it said.

It pointed to the need for a peaceful solution to the issue and welcomed the diplomatic efforts undertaken in the framework of the six-party talks.

The summary said the participants reaffirmed the "inalienable right" for all nations to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The first meeting of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was meant to set priorities to be fleshed out at follow-up meetings leading to the next full-scale NPT review conference in 2010.