For immediate release September 26, 2018

At UN today, more countries sign Treaty prohibiting possession of, deterrence with, nuclear weapons

Contact: Greg Mello, LASG Albuquerque, 505-265-1200 office, 505-577-8563 cell
Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will and LASG, at the UN ceremony, 917-442-5214 cell, 212-682-1265 office

Selected background (Study Group, ICAN)

Permanent link * Previous press releases

Albuquerque, NM – This afternoon at the United Nations, several more countries will sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), joining the first 60 such states.

The ceremony is timed to coincide with today's UN General Assembly "High-Level Plenary Meeting on Nuclear Weapons to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons."

Among the 60 signatories, 15 states have ratified the TPNW so far.

Updates are appearing throughout the day at #nuclearban . See also the twitter feeds of Reaching Critical Will and of Tim Wright, Treaty Coordinator, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).

We in the Albuquerque office do not know at this time precisely how many states are going to sign today. More than 120 states approved the treaty text last year. 

Study Group Director Greg Mello: "Today's signing ceremony is part of the inexorable growth of this important treaty, which expresses most of the world's commitment to be rid of these most heinous of weapons -- so heinous they aren't really 'weapons' at all. They are nothing but instruments of suicide, profitable for a few at the expense of everyone's civilizational values." 

Here is a sampling of country statements from the morning portion of today's meetings, from the above twitter feeds.

Austria says achieving the elimination of nuclear weapons is a top foreign policy objective of its government, and highlights the importance of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to achieve this goal. Austria says the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons sends a powerful message to nuclear-armed states that the rest of the world is not willing to accept the status quo. It calls on all states to sign and ratify the #nuclearban. They are proud of their role in making the #nuclearban possible and call on the international community to embrace the Treaty.

Mexico's foreign minister highlighted the adoption of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, noting Mexico's work with civil society to negotiate the treaty and its pride in signing and ratifying. He urged all states to join. Today, on the International Day for the elimination of nuclear weapons, the Chancellor of Mexico emphasized the importance of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear weapons, towards its elimination. The mere existence of nuclear weapons is a threat to humanity. Enrique Peña Nieto, president of Mexico, just called on all nations to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Mexico was a driving force behind the treaty's adoption last year.

Indonesia says achieving a nuclear weapon free world is not an easy task, but we have no other option. Political and legal framework for total elimination is at our disposal and what we need now is concrete action. 

Uruguay says it ratified the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in July 2018, reaffirming its commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. It calls upon all states to sign and ratify the treaty.

New Zealand says the risks posed by nuclear weapons are unacceptable. The UN Treaty of the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons provides the legal framing for a nuclear weapon free world, and New Zealand is proud to have ratified it.

Tanzania says nuclear weapons cannot create a stable and secure world. This is why it voted in favour of the adoption of the landmark UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and will sign and ratify it soon.

Namibia highlights ethical imperatives for nuclear disarmament. It is about to complete its ratification of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Saudi Arabia, which is currently bombing #Yemen's civilian population relentlessly with conventional weapons, calls for a weapons of mass destruction free zone in the Middle East

Côte d'Ivoire takes pride in being among the first countries to sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and calls for genuine efforts for nuclear disarmament by the nuclear-armed states.

Thailand highlights the Asia-Pacific regional meeting it hosted recently to promote the entry into force of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It calls on all states to recommit themselves to the total elimination of these weapons. Thailand highlights the importance of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and the collective action to achieve it. It marks "the beginning of our journey to a nuclear weapon free world."

Guatemala rejects the existence of nuclear weapons. It participated actively in negotiations for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and proudly signed it. It is now in final phase of ratification, to be completed by end of 2018.

Kazakhstan says nuclear weapons are not an asset but a danger. It has signed the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and plans to ratify it soon. It calls on all states to join the #nuclearban.

Malaysia says nuclear weapons are incompatible with humanity. This is why it signed the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which will help achieve the total elimination of these weapons and establish powerful global norms against them.

Philippines takes pride in signing the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It fulfills the goals set out in the Non-Proliferation Treaty and delegitimises, once and for all, the use of nuclear weapons.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has called on all peace-loving nations to honour the memory of Nelson Mandela by joining the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Guyana says there are 14,000 too many nuclear weapons. They provide a false sense of security to those that possess them while provoking fear and anxiety to everyone else.

The president of the UN General Assembly expresses her hope that all countries will be swayed to support the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Tanzania says the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki taught us a tough lesson about the effects of nuclear weapons and the importance of nuclear disarmament.

Iraq says nuclear weapons are disastrous for humans and the environment and thus supports all measures for nuclear disarmament.

Honduras highlights the importance of the adoption of the #nuclearban last year. "We cannot leave the task of nuclear disarmament to those that possess nuclear weapons. All states should demonstrate leadership and firm commitment to prohibit and eliminate these weapons."

Samoa's prime minister just announced that his country will ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons today. The foreign minister of Samoa announces it will ratify the #nuclearban treaty today, joining the growing number of states doing so. "We are happy to be part of the growing swell of advocacy for total nuclear disarmament."

El Salvador reminds us that the TPNW is the first legally binding instrument to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons. They call on all states to sign and ratify the Treaty to support a speedy entry into force of the #nuclearban
El Salvador highlights that it has signed the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and that its legislative assembly has approved the ratification of the treaty.

The Non-Aligned Movement welcomes the adoption of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and hopes its entry into force helps advance the total elimination of nuclear weapons. The Non-Aligned Movement says nuclear weapons are a violation of the UN Charter and is concerned with lack of disarmament progress by nuclear-armed states. They must take urgent action to eliminate their arsenals.

The president of Cuba notes his country is the fifth country to ratify the #nuclearban treaty, and will persist in advocating for total nuclear disarmament. The president of Cuba says his country rejects the doctrine of nuclear deterrence. "Enough of the illusion that the problems of the world can be solved by nuclear weapons."

Nuclear weapons are increasingly referred to in military strategies and doctrines by those that possess them, warns Turkey, which is very dangerous and must not continue.

Bangladesh is convinced that nuclear weapons cannot provide security, and thus supported the adoption of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and signed it last year.

The African Group welcomes the awarding of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons @nuclearban, and the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It urges all states to sign and ratify the #nuclearban.

The prime minister of Fiji notes that suffering from the nuclear tests in the Pacific, conducted by powerful governments thousands of kilometers away. Whole communities remain permanent displaced; islanders are disconnected from their traditional way of life.

Costa Rica's vice-minister for foreign affairs notes the 50 ratifications for the #nuclearban treaty's entry into force will be achieved soon. In the meantime, it has already changed discourse on nuclear weapons. The vice-minister of foreign affairs of Costa Rica says the #nuclearban treaty has made history for a nuclear weapon free world. The adoption of this treaty is a "colossal step forward" for nuclear disarmament.

The minister of foreign affairs of Iran describes the #nuclearban as "collective protest" against the nuclear-armed states refusal to comply with their nuclear disarmament obligations under the NPT

The president of Palau highlights the effects of nuclear weapons in the Pacific. He calls on non-nuclear-armed states to stand together to press the nuclear-armed to eliminate their arsenals.

Nuclear weapons are a harmful legacy of the Cold War, says the foreign minister of Brazil. Yet three decades after its end, some states still retain these weapons over the objections of the international community.

India, which possesses nuclear weapons and has not joined the Non-Proliferation Treaty nor the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, calls for the "reduction of salience of nuclear weapons in security doctrines".

***ENDS***