STRENGTHENING NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS: THE ROLE OF REGIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

The future safeguards system, as evolving through the IAEA's \"Programme 93 + 2\", will place a substantial emphasis on \"transparency\". Transparency will assume even greater importance under the proposed \"cut-off\" regime, and under possible measures for the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons. States may well find it in their interest to develop new mechanisms for enhancing transparency, not only to the IAEA as an intermediary but directly with other states. Bilateral or regional arrangements could assume particular importance, playing a significant complementary role to the IAEA's safeguards activities in providing confidence about states' commitments to their non-proliferation obligations. This paper discusses various approaches in this regard.