The Federal Cabinet today approved the Annual Disarmament Report 2009 presented by the Federal Foreign Office. The Report provides a detailed account of current developments in the field of disarmament, arms control and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as the German Government’s policies in this connection.

Commenting on this, Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle issued the following statement today (13 January) in Berlin:

“Disarmament and arms control are cornerstones of German foreign policy.

The new US President, Barack Obama, has brought fresh momentum to the issue of disarmament, which we have to exploit.

The German Government greatly hopes that the ongoing talks between the US and Russia on the reduction of their strategic nuclear weapons will be successful.

At the same time, when drawing up a new Strategic Concept with our NATO partners, we will also work towards the aim of withdrawing the sub-strategic nuclear weapons stationed in Germany. I have already held initial talks on this subject with our partners.

As regards conventional disarmament, our aim remains the preservation and strengthening of existing disarmament agreements.”