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Photograph from the 1995 NPT Review Conference

The 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference

Twenty-five years after the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) came into force in 1970, parties to the treaty met to decide if the NPT "shall continue in force indefinitely, or shall be extended for an additional fixed period or periods." This collection contains documents obtained for a 2018 Critical Oral History Conference held in Rotterdam as well as oral history interviews conducted by Dr. Michal Onderco (Erasmus University Rotterdam). The transcript of the 2018 conference was published as Extending the NPT? A Critical Oral History of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference (2020). See also the Digital Archive Collection, "Non-Proliferation Treaty."

Photograph from the 1995 NPT Review Conference

Popular Documents

November 30, 2016

Oral History Interview with Sha Zukang

Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs and Deputy Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

September 13, 2018

Oral History Interview with Richard Butler

The interview with Richard Butler, conducted by Michal Onderco, examines Australia’s proactive role in nuclear arms control and disarmament during the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference. Butler discusses Australia’s bipartisan commitment to non-proliferation and the influence of its uranium resources and regional concerns, including French nuclear testing in the Pacific, on its policies. He highlights Australia’s diplomatic efforts, particularly engaging Israel to support the NPT’s objectives and collaborating with South Africa to advance disarmament proposals at the conference. Butler criticizes the U.S.-led push for an early pledge of indefinite extension as counterproductive and recounts his role in fostering consensus through private diplomacy. He concludes with reflections on the systemic issues of nuclear non-proliferation, the challenges of implementing NPT principles, and his cautious optimism during that period for eventual nuclear disarmament.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.

September 23, 2016

Oral History Interview with Sir Michael Weston

British Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva (1995-1998).

October 9, 2020

Interview with Michael Yaffe

Michael Yaffe is a former US diplomat. He served as a member of the US delegation to ACRS. 

December 14, 2016

Oral History Interview with Hans Blix

The interview with Hans Blix, conducted by Michal Onderco, delves into Blix's experiences as Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and his pivotal role in strengthening the agency's safeguards and mandate in the wake of nuclear proliferation challenges. Blix reflects on the lessons learned from Iraq, South Africa, and North Korea, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and intrusive inspection mechanisms to ensure compliance with nuclear treaties. He discusses the balance between diplomacy and enforcement, contrasting the IAEA's professional inspection style with the more confrontational approach of other agencies like UNSCOM. The conversation also explores Blix's advocacy for consolidating nuclear verification efforts within the IAEA, despite opposition favoring the creation of new organizations. Throughout, Blix underscores the importance of maintaining the IAEA's impartiality and technical credibility in the politically charged landscape of global nuclear governance.