United Nations Radio

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called on all States that are parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to start negotiations on effective measures leading to disarmament.

The Secretary-General says a world free of nuclear weapons would be a "global public good of the highest order."

Mr. Ban said there is support throughout the world for the view that nuclear weapons should never again be used yet nuclear disarmament has remained only an aspiration rather than a reality.

"Nuclear weapons produce horrific, indiscriminate effects. Even when not used, they pose great risks. Accidents could happen any time. The manufacture of nuclear weapons can harm public health and the environment. And of course, terrorists could acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear material."

The Secretary-General notes that most States have chosen to forgo the nuclear option and complied with their commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

He made his comments in an address to a meeting of the East-West Institute, an independent non-partisan and action-oriented international organization founded in 1980 to address situations that threaten peace and security.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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