“These weapons offer false promises of security and deterrence – while guaranteeing only destruction, death, and endless brinksmanship,” he said in a video message to the First Meeting of States Parties to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, taking place in Vienna, Austria.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is an important step towards the common aspiration of a world without nuclear weapons, Mr. Guterres told participants.
‘Recipe for annihilation’
“It is only by joining in solidarity that we can eliminate this scourge and get back to the business of building a better, more peaceful and trusting world for all.”
Decisions made there will help cement the Treaty’s position as an essential element of global disarmament and non-proliferation efforts, he added, expressing hope that more countries will be convinced to get on board.
“Let’s eliminate these weapons before they eliminate us.”
However, with more than 13,000 nuclear weapons still held across the globe, “the once unthinkable prospect of nuclear conflict is now back within the realm of possibility,” he warned.
It prohibits a full range of nuclear-weapon-related activities, such as undertaking to develop, test, produce, manufacture, acquire, or stockpile nuclear weapons, or other nuclear explosive devices.
Governments, civil society groups and other observers are attending the meeting in Vienna, reflecting the central truth that “disarmament is everybody’s business, because life itself is everybody’s business”, said the Secretary-General.
Nuclear-free world
The treaty was adopted in July 2017 and entered into force in January 2021. It has been signed by 86 countries and ratified by 65.
“In a world rife with geopolitical tensions and mistrust, this is a recipe for annihilation. We cannot allow the nuclear weapons wielded by a handful of States to jeopardize all life on our planet. We must stop knocking at doomsday’s door,” he said.
The @UN Secretary-General also noted that it is only by joining in solidarity that we can eliminate the scourge of nuclear weapons and build a better, more peaceful and trusting world for all. SEE ?https://t.co/qKc2TPR1Vh (3/3).
