Nuclear Disarmament for a Safer World 🌍

United Nations, New York, 24 September 2009: The Secretary-General spoke at the opening of the meeting welcoming the first Security Council Summit on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. He said that the need for action on those two fronts is clear.

The Secretary-General stressed that we need new ways to increase transparency and openness regarding the weapons programmes of the recognized nuclear-weapons states. He added that we must make the best use of the UN's disarmament machinery. And he encouraged nuclear weapon states to consider additional measures to enhance security as a way of leading to total elimination.

I welcome the resolution which was adopted by consensus at the Security Council Summit meeting on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament. This summit was an historic event that has opened a new chapter in the Council's efforts to address nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. I commend the vision and leadership of President Obama who convened the meeting.

Global nuclear non-proliferation stands at a critical juncture. Despite some progress, much remains to be done to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. Against this backdrop, this summit was especially timely. I had proposed a Security Council summit meeting on nuclear disarmament in my 5-point action plan last year. I underscore the need to sustain this initiative in the Council and beyond, at the highest possible level.

I hope that the international community seizes and builds on this momentum towards advancing nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament in general and achieving success at the 2010 NPT Review Conference in particular. I will spare no effort to promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and achieve success for the sake of global peace and security.

Webcast video: http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/sc/2009/sc090924am-orig.rm?start=00:09:31&end=00:13:50