UN GA high-level meeting participants call for prohibition of nuclear tests

A world without nuclear weapons is a goal to be pursued by the international community. The most important step to achieving it would be the prohibition of nuclear tests, the participants in a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on nuclear disarmament in New York City stressed. “When the detonation of even one nuclear weapon can cause incomprehensible destruction, the present number of over 17,000 warheads is unacceptable,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrisov said. He called for the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East. The tense situation in the region confirms the need for the implementation of this initiative. Kazakhstan intends to actively contribute to its implementation. “In our view, it is of the utmost importance that all states fully comply with their non-proliferation obligations. We request that states pursue responsible approach to ensure the highest standard of safety and security in order to avoid an increased risk of nuclear proliferation,” said Czech Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok. “This is the only way to permanently get rid of weapons of mass destruction.” He said that all countries must join the implementation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), adopted at the 50th session of the UN General Assembly in 1996. The document was signed by 182 states. Some of them, including the United States, China, Israel, Iran, and North Korea have still not ratified it. “The nuclear tests of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have proved the necessity of this Treaty to significantly strengthen the international security architecture. We call on all states to refrain from any action that would go against the spirit of the Treaty,” said Jiri Rusnok. He also called for the earliest adoption of the international rules prohibiting the production of fissile materials that are used to create weapons of mass destruction. “We are of the view that the negotiations on the Treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices must commence without delay. The need for this treaty has been emphasized on many occasions and the Czech Republic belongs among its staunch supporters,” he stated.