SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON ADOPTION

 

OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON NUCLEAR TERRORISM

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General congratulates the General Assembly on its adoption today by consensus of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.

The adoption of this Convention, after many years of negotiations, is a vital step forward in multilateral efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism.  The Convention will help prevent terrorist groups from gaining access to the most lethal weapons known to humanity.  It will also strengthen the international legal framework against terrorism, which includes 12 existing universal conventions and protocols.

The adoption of this Convention was one of the key recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s recent report, “In Larger Freedom”.  He calls on all States to become parties to the Convention without delay.  They will have an opportunity to do so during September’s summit, when the Convention will be open for signature as part of a special treaty event.

The Secretary-General also encourages the General Assembly to press ahead and finalize yet another important legal instrument, the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, before the end of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly.

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