Developing nations seek assurances on nuclear weapons

U.N. nuclear talks hit a roadblock Friday as Cuba, Iran and other developing nations demanded the five original nuclear powers accept legally binding commitments to dismantle nuclear arsenals and provide assurances they will not use such weapons against states without atomic weapons.  In this month's talks, the strongest resistance came from France. Rebecca Johnson of the Ploughshares-funded Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy said, "The French are feeling anxious because Obama and [British Prime Minister] Gordon Brown have both said they want to see a world free of nuclear weapons. France wants to keep nuclear weapons." 

Johnson said it was a mistake this week to press for agreement on recommendations for the New York conference next May, particularly at a time when the Obama administration has yet to assemble a full team to negotiate a new nuclear deal. She said the dispute detracted from what was an otherwise important achievement at this week's meeting: the agreement on a procedural agenda for next year's talks.