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'[E]nsuring more effective global non-proliferation mechanisms will be a top priority', Foreign & Commonwealth Office White Paper on UK international priorities, March 28, 2006

'Active Diplomacy for a Changing World: The UK's International Priorities', Foreign & Commonwealth Office, CM 6762, March 28, 2006.

The UK Foreign & Commowealth Office published its 2006 White Paper on International Priorities on March 28, 2006. Active Diplomacy for a Changing World, is the second FCO White Paper on international priorities, following the 2003 White Paper, which was analysed in Disarmament Diplomacy at http://www.acronym.org.uk/dd/dd75/75news01.htm. ('UK International Priorities', Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Cm 6052, December 2003, http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/FCOStrategyFullFinal.pdf.)

On proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the 2006 White Paper states:

"The spread of weapons of mass destruction and their possible use, including by terrorists, remains a major security threat in its own right. Preventing terrorist groups from obtaining nuclear, radiological, biological or chemical weapons will be a key task. Strengthening efforts to combat the spread of these weapons will be critical in the next decade as the technology and materials needed become more accessible and regional tensions and other factors drive proliferation. Preventing states, in particular Iran and North Korea, from acquiring or spreading WMD, and ensuring more effective global nonproliferation mechanisms, will be a top priority."

The White Paper continues,

"Preventing terrorist groups and states of concern from acquiring WMD will remain a high priority. Regional stability and the strength of the global nuclear nonproliferation regime will depend in particular on preventing and containing destabilising military nuclear programmes. We will use the full range of nonproliferation and counter-proliferation tools to do so. This includes continuing to support effective international agreements, taking part in practical multilateral action, and implementing our own legal obligations."

No explicit mention is made of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (rather the nuclear nonproliferation regime, which can be inferred to include projects such as the Proliferation Security Initiative and measures taken under UN Security Council Resolution 1540).

The full text of the White Paper is available here.

Source: UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, http://www.fco.gov.uk.

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© 2006 The Acronym Institute.