State parties to the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) have agreed that atomic-weapon states will meet no later than 2011 to discuss how to move forward on nuclear disarmament, after which time United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urged to convene an international conference aimed at negotiating the complete elimination of atomic weapons within a specified timeframe, according to a draft document obtained by Xinhua.

"The nuclear-weapon states shall convene consultations not later than 2011 to accelerate concrete progress on nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability and is based on the principle of undiminished security for all," said a draft of the final document to be released at the end of the NPT Review Conference on May 28.

"Based on the outcome of the these consultations, the secretary-general of the United Nations is invited to convene an international conference in 2014 to consider ways and means to agree on a roadmap for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified timeframe, including by means of a universal, legal instrument," it said.

The consultations to be held by atomic-weapon states should lead to the rapid conclusion of negotiations on reductions of all types of nuclear weapons, said the document, which added that the role of and significance of nuclear weapons should be diminished in all military and security doctrines and policies.

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