Non-nuclear weapon states at NPT Preparatory Committee support Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
May 3, 2019
by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer
NEW YORK — The general debate at the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), held at United Nations headquarters in New York, came to a close on May 1. During this three-day debate, the non-nuclear weapon states, taking into account the fact that the nuclear weapon states have not made efforts to advance nuclear disarmament, which is their obligation under the terms of the NPT, voiced their support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and urged the representatives of the member states to sign and ratify the treaty so it can enter into force.
The representative from the Vatican stressed that the nuclear weapons ban treaty, which the Vatican has already ratified, offers hope of nuclear abolition for current and future generations, and said that the treaty can promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation but does not prevent them. In November, Pope Francis plans to visit the A-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Antigua and Barbuda, which has joined the Treaty of Tlatelolco, the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, delivered a speech on behalf of the Caribbean Community, an organization of Caribbean nations and dependencies. Expressing its frustration to the nuclear-armed nations, which have made no progress toward nuclear disarmament, it said that the nuclear weapons ban treaty had been created out of concern over the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of a nuclear weapon, and it urged all nations to sign and ratify the treaty for the survival of the human race.
Brazil, one of the nations that played a leading role in promoting the nuclear weapons ban treaty, assessed the merits of the treaty by saying that it has strengthened the moral stance against nuclear arms. Asian nations also urged the NPT member states to sign and ratify the treaty with Thailand stating that the treaty would fortify the NPT’s obligation to act for nuclear disarmament.
The South American nation of Ecuador reported that its National Congress had agreed to ratify the treaty in the previous week. Tanzania, in Africa, said that they are preparing to sign and ratify the treaty, and stressed that the absolute abolition of nuclear arms is required so that such weapons will never be used again.
(Originally published on May 3, 2019)
NEW YORK — The general debate at the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), held at United Nations headquarters in New York, came to a close on May 1. During this three-day debate, the non-nuclear weapon states, taking into account the fact that the nuclear weapon states have not made efforts to advance nuclear disarmament, which is their obligation under the terms of the NPT, voiced their support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and urged the representatives of the member states to sign and ratify the treaty so it can enter into force.
The representative from the Vatican stressed that the nuclear weapons ban treaty, which the Vatican has already ratified, offers hope of nuclear abolition for current and future generations, and said that the treaty can promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation but does not prevent them. In November, Pope Francis plans to visit the A-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Antigua and Barbuda, which has joined the Treaty of Tlatelolco, the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, delivered a speech on behalf of the Caribbean Community, an organization of Caribbean nations and dependencies. Expressing its frustration to the nuclear-armed nations, which have made no progress toward nuclear disarmament, it said that the nuclear weapons ban treaty had been created out of concern over the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of a nuclear weapon, and it urged all nations to sign and ratify the treaty for the survival of the human race.
Brazil, one of the nations that played a leading role in promoting the nuclear weapons ban treaty, assessed the merits of the treaty by saying that it has strengthened the moral stance against nuclear arms. Asian nations also urged the NPT member states to sign and ratify the treaty with Thailand stating that the treaty would fortify the NPT’s obligation to act for nuclear disarmament.
The South American nation of Ecuador reported that its National Congress had agreed to ratify the treaty in the previous week. Tanzania, in Africa, said that they are preparing to sign and ratify the treaty, and stressed that the absolute abolition of nuclear arms is required so that such weapons will never be used again.
(Originally published on May 3, 2019)
