Zambia wants nuclear weapons treaty signed

ZAMBIA has appealed to nuclear weapons states and non-nuclear weapons states that have not yet signed the Treaty on the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to ratify the accord so that it could reach the required ratification threshold and become international law. Zambia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Christine Kalamwina reminded United Nations member-states that it was the obligation of all nations to meet various international treaties and conventions that ban, prohibit manufacturing, testing and trading of all forms of nuclear weapons. Ms Kalamwina said the world was still under the risk of nuclear weapons, which were still threatening global peace and security because of lack of compliance by member states to commit themselves to disarmament. She stated that as the world was working towards galvanising efforts to eradicate poverty, avert the effects of climate change so that no one was left behind, the attainment of the international vision for peace and security would remain elusive because of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Ms Kalamwina said this during the ongoing 74th United Nations General Assembly debate on Disarmament and International Security at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. “The picture of international peace and security has changed very little. It remains worrisome because of lack of compliance to disarmament by member states. It is paramount that member states should meet their obligations under various international treaties and conventions that ban, prohibit manufacturing, testing, trading and proliferation of all nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. “Zambia remain committed to supporting all well-intended treaties and protocols and has since signed the TPNW,” Ms Kalamwina said. She said time had come for the world to completely shift the paradigm from armament and concentrate of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which member states had made commitment to work together in finding solutions to eradicate poverty. Ms Kalamwina appealed to nuclear states that the colossal amounts of finds used in nuclear weapons research, manufacturing and testing could save millions of lives if applied to poverty eradication and universal health care. This was contained in a statement issued by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Mission to the United Nations Wallen Simwaka.