An international conference to review the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) opens at the United Nations Monday. The 1970 treaty is riddled with inefficacy, as illustrated by North Korea's nuclear-weapons program, Iran's moves to enrich uranium, and the existence of an international black market for nuclear equipment and technology. Restoring confidence in the NPT regime largely depends on the conference.
Confidence building requires resolving, or at least reducing, the deep disagreement and mistrust that exists between nuclear haves and have-nots. All treaty nations have the collective responsibility to craft a more effective international system for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
During the review conference, which is expected to last more than three weeks, a range of nuclear issues will get a full airing not only in keynote speeches by representatives from member states, but also in the committee discussions that follow. On the agenda are three general subjects: disarmament, nuclear nonproliferation and peaceful use of atomic energy.