Conf? u Topic 214 more headlines PORTZLINES88 energy.nuclear 6:46 AM May 21, 1995 (at delphi.com) (From News system) Apparently-to: perline From: PORTZLINES88@delphi.com Subject: more headlines NUKE-NET HEADLINE ALERT '95 (May 11) UPI is reporting that a resolution calling for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon free zone in the Middle East has been adopted by members of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The resolution was originally sponsored by the Arab states of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen and singled out Israel as an obstacle because of its nuclear arsenal. But, when the US insisted that Israel not be directly mentioned, the Arab sponsorship was withdrawn. The US, Russia and Britain then sponsored a watered-down version. (May 11) Reuter is reporting that leaders of nuclear states say the world is a safer place because of the permanent extension of the Non-Proliferation Treaty signed by 178 countries. But, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stressed that nuclear powers had a lot to do to keep their side of the deal and noted the treaty still lacked the signatures of such nuclear "threshold" states, as Israel, India and Pakistan. The IAEA said that nuclear states need to stop the production of nuclear materials, stop nuclear tests and begin disarming. The goal of the treaty is to eventually achieve a total disarmament of nuclear weapons. Israel reiterated Thursday that it would not sign as long Iran and other countries threatened its existence. (May 11) Reuter is reporting that the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, a British anti-nuclear group says the Non- Proliferation Treaty falls far short of victory without a comprehensive test ban treaty. They said unless negotiations for disarmament begin by 1997, they see little chance for the agreement to remain intact. (May 11) Reuter is reporting that more than 170 nations are calling for the Middle East to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty. (May 11) Reuter is reporting that a member of the European Parliament who investigated nuclear smuggling says that over-eager investigators created the black market they were trying to avoid by posing as buyers. In a report soon to be released, he says that in each case where a buyer has surfaced, it has turned out to be government authorities. (May 11) Reuter is reporting that Iran is saying President Clinton failed to block the Russian sale of reactors. Although President Yeltsin did block the planned sale of a gas centrifuge, Iran says that was never part of the deal. (May 11) Reuter is reporting that North Korea says it will maintain a nuclear freeze until the end of upcoming high-level talks on nuclear reactors. North Korea refuses to accept South Korean reactors. (May 11) UPI is reporting that Greenpeace criticized the extension of the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty as a "nuclear power trip for the world's worst proliferators at the expense of global security." There are no provisions for real disarmament which non-nuclear weapon states had pressured during negotiations. Greenpeace said that during the month of negotiations the United States spent $780 million on nuclear weapons, Britain sent its newest trident nuclear submarine on patrol, and France created a new above-ground nuclear test site in the Pacific. It said Russia continued to produce nuclear weapons during the conference, and worldwide nearly 5 tons of plutonium was created by nuclear power reactors. Greenpeace said the equivalent of 130 nuclear warheads were produced by reprocessing facilities worldwide. (May 11) UPI is reporting that President Clinton is praising progress made over disarmament in Ukraine. Ukraine possessed the world's third largest nuclear arsenal but has thus far shipped 350 of its 1,662 warheads back to Russia for dismantlement. Ukraine has received $1 billion for the nuclear material and will receive another $1 billion in aid from the US. (May 11) UPI is reporting that North Korea is now proposing to re-open high-level talks in Beijing at a lower level. (May 11) Reuter is reporting that France's outgoing Prime Minister published a statement on the very day the Non- Proliferation Treaty is due for renewal saying that more nuclear test will be necessary to maintain a credible deterrent. Military sources say France needs more experiments to verify the reliability of its existing arsenal, test a new warhead for its submarine-based missiles and perfect its simulation technology. But some strategists argue that nuclear deterrence does not require a fully tested arsenal. They note that Israel's presumed nuclear capability has proved an effective deterrent even though it may never have tested a warhead. (May 11) UPI is reporting that a US Department of Interior report on a proposed low-level nuclear waste site in California's Mojave Desert [Ward Valley] would pose little threat to the nearby Colorado River. Two of the 17 National Academy of Sciences commissioners opposed the study saying more information was necessary before drawing conclusions. The Committee to Bridge the Gap called the findings irresponsible and said the dissent of the two commissioners amounted to a hung jury. If approved, the site would receive 5.5 million cubic feet of nuclear waste over the next 3 decades. (May 12) Reuter is reporting that the president of the Non- Proliferation Treaty warns that non-nuclear states would be tempted to pull out of the agreement if the nuclear powers do not set a timetable to rid themselves of nuclear weapons. Although this is one of the goals of the treaty, nuclear states view the promise of complete disarmament as unlikely. (May 12) Reuter is reporting that a German undercover agent told a court that he was offered black market plutonium by Jose Fernandez. Fernandez claimed he could also provide helicopters armed with nuclear weapons. Defense attorneys claim the incident was staged to justify the existence of the German BND intelligence agency. (May 12) Reuter is reporting that Nigeria says the extension of the Non-Proliferation Treaty without disarmament poses a great risk for future generations. (May 12) Reuter is reporting that China says the Non- Proliferation Treaty will help safeguard world peace. India called the pact an unfair discriminatory treaty which creates a division between nuclear haves and have-nots. Japan welcomed the treaty but was disappointed that there are no decisive provisions for disarmament. Germany said the treaty makes the world a safer place. Arab states criticized Israel's nuclear program and Egypt opposed the treaty. (May 12) Reuter is reporting that Ukraine has requested US participation in talks at Halifax, Canada on financial aid and the development of a timetable for closing Chernobyl. So far, the US has showed no interest in attending. (May 12) Reuter is reporting that a joint statement from the US and Ukraine said $10 million in aid will be given to help eliminate the infrastructure associated with what remains of Ukraine's share of the Soviet nuclear arsenal. Both sides pledged increase safety at Ukraine's power plants (May 13) Reuter is reporting that the Arab League says the international community had committed an injustice in the Middle East by extending the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty without Israel joining. (May 13) Reuter is reporting a secret German intelligence report concludes that there is no black market for nuclear materials even though some officials in the former Soviet Union are willing to sell nuclear contraband. German investigators have only found a supply line and not buyers. In each instance the buyers were German government agents. (May 13) Reuter is reporting that 5,000 peaceful protestors at Hanover, Germany demanded the government shut down its nuclear energy program. Farmers who live near a temporary nuclear waste storage site in Luechow-Dannenberg surrounded the state's environment ministry with around 300 tractors to show their displeasure with the facility. (May 14) Reuter is reporting that the opposition Greens are calling on German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to testify on the growing nuclear smuggling scandal which might involve a staged incident. Der Spiegel magazine reported that Kohl had prior knowledge of the incident. (May 14) The New York Times is reporting that Iran is planning to build ten nuclear plants in the next twenty years. Iran has the second largest natural gas reserves in the world and would be much cheaper to develop than nuclear energy. end --- GIGO unreg at globenet vsn 0.99.950303