The Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty: A Venue for Future Progress in Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and the Prevention of Nuclear Terrorism

The idea of controlling the production, distribution, and use of fissile material as a nuclear arms control measure has been around in various forms since the 1940s. Such controls could help cap existing nuclear arsenals and would provide a means to monitor pro g ress tow a rds nuclear disarmament. Ten years ago, the United Nations adopted a resolution calling for the negotiation of a nondiscriminatory, multilateral, and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile and fissionable material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. Howe ve r, the Conference on Disarmament, the United Nations organization responsible for negotiations, has been blocked from starting its work by political intervention.