UN Secretary-General: World Faces Most Dangerous Nuclear Moment Since End of Cold War
New York, September 29 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday that the world is facing the most dangerous nuclear moment since the end of the Cold War, amid the expansion and modernization of nuclear arsenals, escalating threats to use nuclear capabilities, and growing risks of errors due to technological developments. Guterres made these remarks during a high-level meeting convened by the UN General Assembly to mark the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, held at the conclusion of the high-level week of the 81st session of the General Assembly.
Guterres expressed concern over the expiration of the New START treaty on strategic arms reduction and the eleventh failure of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference to reach agreement on a substantive outcome. He stated that “the safeguards built up over decades to contain these risks are crumbling, more urgently needed than ever,” noting that the UN Disarmament Commission once again concluded its three-year session without adopting substantive recommendations. He characterized these developments as “not merely diplomatic disappointments but warning signs,” cautioning that rising risks and the collapse of preventive controls pave the way toward disaster.
Guterres emphasized that nuclear disarmament is “not a favor but a binding legal obligation,” urging nuclear-armed states to return to dialogue, reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their security policies, and adopt confidence-building measures to enhance transparency. He called on the United States and Russia to negotiate a framework to succeed New START, stressing that it is “long past time” to bring the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force.
In closing his address, the Secretary-General urged the international community to replace threats with dialogue, arms racing with arms control, and stalemate with concrete steps toward a nuclear-weapon-free world.
In December 2013, the UN General Assembly, through Resolution 68/32, designated September 26 of each year as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, with the aim of raising awareness of the dangers posed by these weapons and mobilizing international efforts to achieve a world free of them. Nuclear disarmament is among the oldest goals of the United Nations; it was the subject of the first resolution adopted by the General Assembly in 1946. The UN system continues to advocate for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, considering it its highest priority in the field of disarmament. (End) A.S.T. / R.J.
