2009-08-08 13:11:47

Dream of nuclear-weapon-free world can be realized, says Ban Ki Moon


(August 8, 2009) Despite the continued presence of thousands of nuclear weapons in global arsenals, it is possible to achieve the goal of ridding the world of this deadly scourge, U N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a gathering in the Japanese city of Nagasaki. “A world without nuclear weapons may be distant, but it is no longer just a dream,” Mr. Ban said in a message to the Seventh General Conference of Mayors for Peace. “I look forward to continuing to work with governments and global citizens to realize this shared vision.” Mr. Ban lauded the important work done by Mayors for Peace, which has helped to inform millions of people around the world about the catastrophic effects of the 1945 nuclear attacks. The initiative has also raised public awareness about the dangers that cities, in particular, would face if these destructive weapons were ever used again. “I am grateful for your advocacy because I share your vision of a world free of nuclear weapons,” stated the Secretary-General. He recalled the five-point plan he launched last October containing “practical and realistic” steps the international community can take to make the vision of a nuclear-weapon-free world a reality. The plan begins with a call for the parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to pursue negotiations on nuclear disarmament, either through a new convention or through a series of mutually reinforcing instruments backed by a credible system of verification.







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