Today the UN Security Council, chaired by US President Obama, discussed the issues of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

The Heads of State and Government adopted a Resolution that emphasizes the role of the Security Council in stopping proliferation, calls for further steps towards nuclear disarmament and reminds all countries of their responsibility to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Resolution mentions specific measures for strengthening the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and for better international monitoring of treaty obligations.

Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed the outcome of the Security Council meeting in the following statement issued in Berlin today (24 September):

”With today’s Resolution the UN Security Council confirmed that global disarmament is one of the most pressing challenges of our time.It is thanks to President Obama’s initiative that disarmament has finally been made a top priority.Now we have to ensure that we do more than just pay lip service to the idea.

Today’s Security Council decision needs to give the global disarmament negotiations and the non-proliferation regime fresh momentum.To this end, the Resolution identifies specific measures for the international community.They include enacting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and beginning negotiations on banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons (Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty/FMCT).

I will continue working to ensure that Germany remains a leader in disarmament policy.This November the German Government is hosting a conference on the central issue of verification in banning the production of weapons-grade fissile material.“