LE GROUPE D’EXPERTS DE HAUT NIVEAU CHARGÉ DE L’ÉLABORATION D'UN TRAITÉ INTERDISANT LA PRODUCTION DE MATIÈRES FISSILES POUR LA FABRICATION D’ARMES NUCLÉAIRES ACHÈVE SA PREMIÈRE SESSION (en anglais)

GENEVA, 11 August 2017 (Office for Disarmament Affairs) -- The high-level fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT) expert preparatory group concluded today its first session, which started on 31 July 2017.

The group, which was established by General Assembly resolution 71/259 of 23 December 2016, is tasked to consider and make recommendations on substantial elements of a future non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, on the basis of CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein. The high-level FMCT expert preparatory group is also tasked to examine, with a view to making possible recommendations, the report of the Group of Governmental Experts (A/70/81) mandated pursuant to resolution 67/53, as well as the views submitted by Member States as contained in documents A/68/154 and Add.1 and A/71/140/Rev.1 and Add.1.

Concluding the work of the first session, Ms. Heidi Hulan of Canada, Chair of the high-level fissile material cut-off treaty expert preparatory group, said: "‎A treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons remains a fundamental priority for the international community and people around the world. Together, I am confident that this group can and will make a real contribution towards the realization of this goal. I thank the members of the group for their goodwill and constructive engagement -- and I look forward to the next session and further progress."

The second session of the preparatory group is scheduled to take place in 2018 in Geneva.

Twenty-five States were invited by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to participate in the Group, on the basis of the principle of equitable geographical representation: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Senegal, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States.

For further information, please contact the Office for Disarmament Affairs, e-mail: unoda-geneva@unog.ch. Web site: https://unog.ch/fmct




For use of the information media; not an official record

DC17/025E