In UN-backed meeting, countries reaffirm their commitment to ban nuclear testing

Meeting in Vienna today, members of the United Nations-backed treaty to ban nuclear testing reiterated their commitment to seek a safer world without nuclear weapons.

A total of 111 Member States, five international organizations and 60 non-governmental organizations took part in the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference.

According to a news release, the State parties “underlined their resolve to seek a safer world for all and to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.”

The NPT, a landmark international treaty, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.

Participants in the session also held “focused and constructive discussions on implementation of the Treaty and of the commitments contained in the final document of the successful 2010 NPT Review Conference.”

In addition, many States parties made substantive proposals for possible consideration and adoption at the next Review Conference, and Ambassador Peter Woolcott of Australia, who chaired the session, stressed that he hoped States recognized the progress made so far, while also realizing that an enormous amount of work remains.

The session was the first of three to be held prior to the Review Conference, with the next session taking place in Geneva on 22 April – 3 May next year.