Annan hails Libyan decision to act on treaties banning nuclear testing, chemical weapons

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed Libya's decision to take action on international treaties banning nuclear testing and chemical weapons, saying the move would boost worldwide efforts to halt the proliferation of these arms.

A statement issued by a spokesman for the Secretary-General said Mr. Annan considered Libya's decision to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) "positive steps that can help strengthen global efforts to prevent the spread and use of weapons of mass destruction in both these deadly categories."

Through his spokesman, the Secretary-General also urged all countries to accede to all disarmament treaties, and to implement them in full.