United Nations Radio

A senior United States arms control official has called for the completion of work on a treaty to stop production of material used for making nuclear bombs.

Rose Gottenmoeller, Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Issues, was speaking in Geneva on Thursday as the Conference on Disarmament continues its annual session.

She expressed the hope that after many years of a stalemate, the Conference on Disarmament would deliberate seriously as it begins to organize itself for negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

The treaty, referred to as an FMCT, would ban production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other explosive devices.

"It is time that we stopped talking about having an FMCT and got to work to complete it. If we succeed on FMCT, we'll have taken a necessary but admittedly not sufficient step towards nuclear disarmament. It must be complemented by deeper respect for nonproliferation rules, consequences for those who violate them, improved verification of compliance and further progress on arms control."

Ms. Gottenmoeller said the United States is committed to doing its part.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.
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