UNITED NATIONS: Overshadowed by Third World resistance to an indefinite extension of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, negotiators have completed most arrangements for a crucial conference on renewing the pact

A five-day preparatory meeting ended recently with agreement on an agenda, without which the main conference, scheduled for April, would have descended into chaos.

But at the same time the session made no progress on deciding how to vote on the treaty, a delicate issue that could determine which option for tending the NPT gains the most support at the high-level conference, beginning April 17.

Extending the NPT, ratified in 1970 for a 25-year period, requires a simple majority of the 170 treaty members. The options are an indefinite extension or an extension for one or more fixed periods after which the treaty would lapse.

Underlying disputes on agendas and procedures, were threats by non aligned nations to reject an indefinite extension of the treaty-as the nuclear powers want–and instead vote for a limited renewal.

At least five proposals for balloting were put on the table, with Western nations reported to be running the various options through computers to test the results. A decision on how to vote will be made April 14-15, shortly before the high-level NPT review conference opens. Pasi Patokallio of Finland, chairman first control children were of the this week’s meetings, said delegations wanted a love playing field no first come, toward the authorities failure to control events in the stadium, where many children were among the injured, crushed in a stampede to escape the stadium after the blasts.

The bombs were planted in the ground in the stadium. The first blow up amplifies and heavy batteries pro viding power for the event and sprayed battery acid over spectators nearby

The second went off four minutes later near the podium where governor Rao had been winding up his speech Ho was hurt in the Ieg and one of his security guards was among those killed

A third bomb exploded in another part of the stadium two minutes after the second.

“For 24 hours before the celebrations, the police had taken over the stadium. How could these bombs planted inside?” said Mohan Lal, a shopkeeper.

“It is someone inside who has done this mischief. Such elements should be brought to book,” he added-first serve” in the voting.

“We did a lot in a very short time (which) boxes well for the conference,” he told reporters.

Several Third World states declared that the five acknowledged nuclear powers, particularly the United States and Russia have not lived up to their part of the bargain in nuclear disarmament. The other three states allowed to have nuclear weapons under the NPT are Britain, France and China.

Many non-nuclear states, led by Mexico, Indonesia and Iran, see the abolition of nuclear weapons as new reality with the end of the Cold War. At the same time the developing nations want help in creating a nuclear energy industry, Under the NPT. non-nuclear weapons states have pledged not to acquire atomic weapons and to submit to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency In addition, Arab states, led by Egypt, insist Israel must make some gesture towards joining the NPT Israel, along with India and Pakistan have nuclear capabilities Several disarmament experts observing the conference, such as former U.S. national security adviser, McGcorge Bundy, fault the Clinton administration for weakening its own arguments for an indefinite NPT extension.

In Geneva negotiations for a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty, US, officials proposed a rule that would allow any state to withdraw after 10 years, precisely the type of early exit clause Washington opposes for the NPT.

U.S. Russian officials, along with western and eastern European states, feel confident the many undecided Third World countries will support an indefinite extension. But American estimates show a shortage of at least 20 votes to date.

Iran also made a concerted effort to point the agenda toward a review of sharing technology for peaceful nuclear energy purposes. Washing Ion has denied data to Iran, Saying Tchranhas decided to pursue nuclear weapons option, although it is currently in compliance with the NPT

Tehran denies this is the case and accuses the West of discriminatory is that North Korea will be getting Western technology, although it has openly violated NPT safeguards, diplomats

The last vocal participant in the conference was North Korea in an apparent effort to attract attention to its own complicated situation.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 10, 1995