1995 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference -- Impact on IAEA safeguards

The 1995 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review and Extension Conference was held from April 17--May 12, 1995 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Confounding most predictions, the Conference agreed, without a vote, on the indefinite extension of the NPT. This outcome has a significant positive impact on IAEA safeguards as the great majority of IAEA safeguards agreements will now be of indefinite duration, thus providing a firm basis for the IAEA, member states, and the safeguards community to intensify safeguards strengthening efforts. Other decisions adopted by the conference, as well as safeguards-related deliberations and agreed language, provide further support to strengthening IAEA safeguards. This paper provides a brief description, from the perspective of two members of the US delegation to the 1995 NPT Conference, of the impact of the Conference on IAEA safeguards. In particular, this paper briefly reviews the principle safeguards issues debated by the conference and specific safeguards related language adopted by or agreed in the Conference. The intent is to give the safeguards community a brief review of safeguards-relevant activities of the Conference