ID :
26672
Sun, 10/26/2008 - 19:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/26672
The shortlink copeid
U.N. asks N-states to work toward nuclear disarmament
United Nations, Oct 25 (PTI) Emphasising that the financial crisis has triggered the need for an international cooperation to tackle global issues, United Nations has asked the nuclear weapon States, including India, to take the advantage of the atmosphere to revitalise the world disarmament agenda.
In his address to East-West Institute, an independent
international body focusing on security issues, Friday,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the N-weapon States to
move towards total elimination of nuclear weapons.
Advocating a five point proposal to achieve the aim, Ban
urged the nuclear weapon States, including the five permanent
members of the Security Council to keep their promise to
launch negotiations to achieve total disarmament.
The Secretary General also supported the idea of the
General Assembly holding a summit on disarmament and called
for steps to bring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
(C.T.B.T.) into force.
But the call was not well received by either of the major
powers – the United States and Russia – who hold most of the
warheads and have failed to any major move to reduce their
number.
Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak declined to
give his reaction immediately, saying Moscow would like to
study the proposals.
But the United States diplomats virtually rejected most
of his proposal, repeating Washington's stand of not becoming
a party to C.T.B.T.
Besides P5 – the United States, Russia, Britain, France
and China – India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons and
Israel is widely believed to have them.
India too has repeatedly proposed time-bound nuclear
weapon disarmament but has not taken off with the major powers
in no mood to move in the direction.
The Western powers also believe that Iran is moving
towards acquiring such weapons but Tehran denies that.
Pointing to the dangers involved, Ban said, "The doctrine
of deterrence has proven to be contagious and this has made
non proliferation more difficult which in turn raises new
risks that nuclear weapons will be used."
He also warned against "nuclear renaissance" that could
occur as nuclear power is seen as clean alternative to combat
climate change.
Underlining the fact that there is support worldwide for
the idea that nuclear arms should never be utilised again due
to their "horrific effects, environmental impacts and
repercussions on security," the Secretary-General stressed,
since disarmament has yet to be achieved, "this forces us to
ask whether a taboo merely on the use of such weapons is
sufficient."
Ban also asked the nuclear states to open discussions on
security issues related to disarmament of weapons of mass
destruction, including atomic, chemical and biological, to
prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists and to
assure the non-nuclear weapons States that they would never be
subjected to a nuclear attack.
Meanwhile, several disarmament groups have expressed
their dismay at the major powers trying to improve upon the
weapons they already possess to increase their effectiveness
and power. PTI
In his address to East-West Institute, an independent
international body focusing on security issues, Friday,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the N-weapon States to
move towards total elimination of nuclear weapons.
Advocating a five point proposal to achieve the aim, Ban
urged the nuclear weapon States, including the five permanent
members of the Security Council to keep their promise to
launch negotiations to achieve total disarmament.
The Secretary General also supported the idea of the
General Assembly holding a summit on disarmament and called
for steps to bring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
(C.T.B.T.) into force.
But the call was not well received by either of the major
powers – the United States and Russia – who hold most of the
warheads and have failed to any major move to reduce their
number.
Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak declined to
give his reaction immediately, saying Moscow would like to
study the proposals.
But the United States diplomats virtually rejected most
of his proposal, repeating Washington's stand of not becoming
a party to C.T.B.T.
Besides P5 – the United States, Russia, Britain, France
and China – India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons and
Israel is widely believed to have them.
India too has repeatedly proposed time-bound nuclear
weapon disarmament but has not taken off with the major powers
in no mood to move in the direction.
The Western powers also believe that Iran is moving
towards acquiring such weapons but Tehran denies that.
Pointing to the dangers involved, Ban said, "The doctrine
of deterrence has proven to be contagious and this has made
non proliferation more difficult which in turn raises new
risks that nuclear weapons will be used."
He also warned against "nuclear renaissance" that could
occur as nuclear power is seen as clean alternative to combat
climate change.
Underlining the fact that there is support worldwide for
the idea that nuclear arms should never be utilised again due
to their "horrific effects, environmental impacts and
repercussions on security," the Secretary-General stressed,
since disarmament has yet to be achieved, "this forces us to
ask whether a taboo merely on the use of such weapons is
sufficient."
Ban also asked the nuclear states to open discussions on
security issues related to disarmament of weapons of mass
destruction, including atomic, chemical and biological, to
prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists and to
assure the non-nuclear weapons States that they would never be
subjected to a nuclear attack.
Meanwhile, several disarmament groups have expressed
their dismay at the major powers trying to improve upon the
weapons they already possess to increase their effectiveness
and power. PTI
