Finland to Chair Int´l nuke weapon meeting in Vienna in Aug

Finland will chair a session of the Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in August, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a recent press release.

The first session of the Preparatory Committee will take place from 31 July to 11 August in Vienna, Austria.

This will be preceded on 24–28 July by a meeting of the working group on further strengthening the review process of the Treaty. Finland is also the chair of the working group.

As chair-designate, Ambassador for Arms Control Jarmo Viinanen has held negotiations with the States parties over the course of the spring.

It is established practice that the chairs of the preparatory committees act as chairs of the main committees of the Review Conference.

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to foster the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of disarmament.

The NPT is the only multilateral treaty in which the recognised nuclear-weapons states have committed to nuclear disarmament.

Finland’s most important goal is to bolster nuclear non-proliferation and the NPT. Finland's approach to the review process is constructive, with an emphasis on the importance of all of the pillars of the Treaty and on its implementation.

The Review Conferences review the implementation of the NPT and set objectives for the implementation of the Treaty for the next term.

Each Review Conference is always preceded by three sessions of the Preparatory Committee. Rather than making political decisions, the Preparatory Committee sessions aim to prepare for the Review Conference by clarifying the positions of the parties and holding discussions.

The tenth Review Conference held in 2022 decided to establish a working group on further strengthening the review process of the Treaty. The working group is tasked with developing the effectiveness, efficiency, transparency, accountability, coordination and continuity of the Treaty. The working group will present its report to the Preparatory Committee.