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Negotiations on the first-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons resumed today in New York, with the United Nations disarmament chief expressing hope that the talks result in an effective instrument that “complements and strengthens” existing ones.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has marked the Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare with a call for reflection on the “terrible toll” of chemical weapons and for taking stock of efforts to chart a course to a world free from the menace of such weapons.

Marking the annual Remembrance Day for All Victims of Chemical Warfare, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged the world to build on progress so far made towards the complete elimination of chemical weapons and to promote the international convention banning their use and stockpiling.

A one-million signature petition from cities around the world demanding the abolition of nuclear weapons went on exhibition at United Nations Headquarters in New York today in a ceremony attended by Japanese survivors of the first and only use of the devastating bombs.

The top United Nations official in Lebanon today welcomed the decision of the country’s Parliament to approve the ratification of the international convention prohibiting the manufacture, use and stockpiling of cluster munitions.

United Nations officials have expressed their delight at Sunday’s entry into force of the international convention banning the manufacture, use and stockpiling of cluster munitions, calling it a “major advance for the global disarmament and humanitarian agendas.”

With the first round of United Nations-backed talks on a global, legally-binding treaty on the import and export of weapons set to kick off next week, the official chairing the discussions said today he hopes that the pact will be concluded in 2012.

Observing the Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for greater efforts prevent the deadly weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged States parties to make full use of a global agreement on certain convention weapons that seeks to protect civilians from the effects of hostilities, in an address to a meeting taking place in Geneva ahead of the 25th anniversary of the treaty’s entry into force.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged countries to make full use of the global agreement on explosive remnants of war, a deadly scourge that kills and maims innocent civilians long after armed conflicts have come to an end.