*It is not only Iran or North Korea, which may raise concerns about
nuclear developments*
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohammad
el-Baradei, said at a conference in Vienna that over 40 countries had
nuclear programs developing. However, Baradei added, the countries might
aim their programs at the creation of the nuclear weapon.
El-Baradei enumerated those countries, although experts believed that
the IAEA's head implicated Iran, South Korea, several states in Europe,
Asia, South Africa, Latin America and Canada, first and foremost. In
other words, almost every part of the globe has a country (or
countries), which may produce nuclear arms within several years.
The key document to regulate the issues of nuclear arms possessions is
the Non-Proliferation Treaty, signed in 1986. According to the treaty,
there are two categories of countries: nuclear and non-nuclear powers.
Russia, the USA, Great Britain, France and China are de jure referred to
the first category. All other states are categorized as denuclearized.
The treaty binds the 185 signatory states not to produce or purchase
nuclear weapons and recognize the control on the part of the IAEA. The
document, however, does not make the countries shut down nuclear
developments. The treaty only bans the proliferation of the nuclear weapon.
The treaty was originally concluded for the period of 25 years, it came
into effect in 1970. The term of the document was prolonged in 1995.
Several countries have never joined the Non-Proliferation Treaty at all.
Two of those states have nuclear arms in their possessions - India and
Pakistan. Israel is not a member of the treaty either, although Israeli
authorities have never confirmed or rejected the nuclear possession of
the state. North Korea pulled out from the treaty in 2003, which became
an expression of the nation's protest against the US's pressure.
The countries that have nuclear programs are: Argentina, Brazil, Egypt,
Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and South African Republic. According to
this list, it is not only Iran or North Korea, which may raise concerns
about nuclear developments.
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[Homestead] Nukes in forty countries to destabilize the Brave New World,
Tvoivozhd, 09/22/2004