Vietnam calls for complete elimination of nuclear weapons

On the occasion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (September 26), the United Nations General Assembly on September 26 held a High-Level Session to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in New York, USA.

“ The world has been under the shadow of nuclear weapons for too long. Let us step back from the brink of disaster. Let us usher in a new era of peace for all. Let us make history by making nuclear weapons a thing of the past." That was the call of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the occasion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (September 26).

Speaking at the high-level plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, Mr. Guterres affirmed that the only way to prevent the use of nuclear weapons is to eliminate these weapons.

He warned that any use of nuclear weapons - at any time, place and context - would cause a humanitarian disaster on a massive scale.

A worrying new arms race is underway, the UN Secretary-General said. The number of nuclear weapons may increase for the first time in decades. The norms preventing the use, proliferation and testing of nuclear weapons are weakening. The global architecture for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation is crumbling.

Secretary-General Guterres noted that nuclear arsenals are being modernized to make them faster, more accurate and more stealthy.

In that context, the UN Secretary-General called on nuclear-weapon States to meet their disarmament obligations and commit to not using nuclear weapons under any circumstances.

He stressed the need to strengthen and recommit to the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime built over decades, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

In addition, Mr. Guterres called for dialogue, diplomacy and negotiation solutions to reduce tensions and end the nuclear threat.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, attended the meeting and delivered a speech affirming that the complete elimination of nuclear weapons remains an absolute guarantee to prevent the use and threat of use of nuclear weapons; It is necessary to strengthen disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation mechanisms globally. Countries need to fully implement relevant obligations, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang speaks at the meeting. Photo: Internet.

The Ambassador stressed the need to strengthen global disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation mechanisms. Countries need to fully implement their relevant obligations, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The Ambassador said that in order to build trust and friendly relations between countries, countries need to increase dialogue and discussion, instead of the doctrine of nuclear deterrence.

On this occasion, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent policy on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, and committed to maintaining a Southeast Asian region free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction; and welcomed nuclear-weapon countries to sign and ratify without reservation the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ).

September 26 of each year was decided by the General Assembly as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in Resolution 68/32 of 2013. Since 2014, the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons has become an annual event to encourage UN Member States and non-governmental organizations, scholars, mass media and individuals to participate in commemorative events and to promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, thereby raising awareness andeducating the community about the threat of nuclear weapons to humanity, as well as the need to completely eliminate this type of weapon./.

Thu Hang