New international verification regimes, including nuclear weapon free zones, fissile material cut-off treaty, comprehensive test ban treaty

The international treaties, regimes and measures to combat nuclear proliferation have been evolving since the first nuclear test was carried out in the USA. The merits, objectivities, levels of success, benefits and achievements of the regimes have seldom attained world consensus. New verification regimes which are continuations of the old ones are more elaborate, specific and intrusive in nature although their technical and cost effectiveness has not been fully established yet. Nuclear weapons states and other advanced states need to reinforce the transparency and confidence building measures with demonstrable sincerity of purpose to enhance the chances of universal acceptance of these regimes. Nuclear Weapons Free Zones have strengthened the cause of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament in the world and have demonstrated the viability of the non proliferation regimes under their specific geo-political conditions. (author)