Guterres speaks of an “alarming rise in distrust and division,” which he describes as “a recipe for destruction.”
MADRID, August 30 (EUROPA PRESS) –
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a “legally binding ban” on nuclear tests, which he described as “a fundamental step towards a world without nuclear weapons.”
In a speech marking the International Day Against Nuclear Testing, Guterres said that “since 1945, more than 2,000 nuclear tests have inflicted terrible suffering on people, poisoned the air and destroyed landscapes around the world,” before emphasizing that “the world is speaking.” with one voice to put an end to this destructive legacy.
“This year we are facing an alarming rise in global distrust and division. At a time when there are nearly 13,000 nuclear weapons stockpiled worldwide and countries are working to improve their accuracy, range and destructive power, this is a recipe for destruction.”
In this sense, he stressed that “the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, even if it has not yet been implemented, remains a striking example of humanity’s will to banish the shadow of annihilation from the world once and for all .” “
“On behalf of all victims of nuclear testing, I ask all countries that have not yet ratified the treaty to do so immediately and without conditions. “Let’s put an end to nuclear testing forever,” Guterres added.
The treaty, which bans nuclear tests – for both civilian and military purposes – was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 1996 but has not yet entered into force. China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and the United States have signed but not ratified it, while India, North Korea and Pakistan have not signed it.