UNITED NATIONS — Faced with mounting criticism that their nuclear arsenals are too large, the five main nuclear powers decided to pledge "unequivocal commitment" to eliminate nuclear weapons but set no timetable for this goal.
In a 23-point statement, concluded over the weekend for release later Monday, the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China also call for strengthening the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty and obliquely refer to Israel's refusal to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).
The statement, to be issued at the current NPT conference, is aimed at countering criticism that the five, particularly the United States and Russia, are moving far too slowly in reducing their strategic and tactical nuclear arms, estimated at more than 20,000 warheads between them.
The five, using stronger language than in any previous joint statements, promised "our unequivocal commitment to the ultimate goals of a complete elimination of nuclear weapons" and a treaty on complete disarmament under strict international control. But no specifics or timetables were given.
The meeting, which ends on May 19, is to set goals for the 187 signatories to the NPT for the next five years.
Under the NPT convention that went into effect in 1970, only the five recognized nuclear powers are permitted to have atomic weapons among the 187 states that have ratified the treaty. In turn, they have promised to move toward ridding themselves of the deadly weapons.
The five, including the United States, in the statement called for "preserving and strengthening" the 1972 U.S.-Russian Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty, which the Clinton administration wants amended to accommodate its controversial new program against incoming nuclear missiles. Diplomats said the language was aimed at ensuring the pact could not be changed or abandoned unilaterally.
Some Republican members of the U.S. Senate want to scotch the treaty entirely, but nearly every country in the world considers the new U.S. program an escalation of the arms race.
The statement also declares that none of the five have their nuclear weapons targeted at any specific state. Diplomats said that in reality they could be targeted within minutes but noted this provision was a positive signal.
The statement reaffirms a resolution on the Middle East concluded at the 1995 NPT conference, which calls on all states that have not signed the treaty to do so at an early date. But it does not mention Israel by name, the only suspected nuclear arms state in the region not to sign the NPT.
But diplomats said the United States was considering allowing a resolution by Arab nations this year that would mention Israel by name as well as Cuba, India and Pakistan, who also have not signed the treaty. It would call on them to open their nuclear facilities to international inspections.
Monday's statement by the five, however, only singles out India and Pakistan for their tit for tat May 1998 underground nuclear explosions.
The statement also calls for ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.