The 2010 Review Conference for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) opened in New York at the United Nations on Monday May 3.

At the opening session President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran spoke to the delegates gathered for the Review Conference. He said that “none of the non-nuclear states has ever been able to exercise their inalienable and legal rights for the peaceful use of nuclear energy without facing pressures and threats.” (1)

He was referring to the difficulty to utilize the right protected by Article IV of the Treaty, which states:

“Nothing in this Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting the inalienable right of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with articles I and II of this treaty.”(2)

At a press conference with President Ahmadinejad held the next day at the Millennium… weiter lesen

[Note: The English language website of People's Daily asked for comments on the question, "How do you regard China's function in International Affairs?" Here is my response which has been published on their website.*]

As a resident correspondent at the United Nations reporting for a South Korean publication, it is helpful to hear China’s views on the different issues before the United Nations, particularly when China supports the effort for negotiation and political solutions to problems rather than coercive measures.

One such situation is the issue of whether Iran should have the right to do nuclear enrichment for the peaceful use of nuclear energy as Iran holds as its right under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Some of the permanent members of the Security Council claim that mastering the process of nuclear enrichment will give Iran the ability to create nuclear weapons. These permanent members also hold that they… weiter lesen