SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY WELCOMES ACCORD REACHED AT SIX-PARTY TALKS IN BEIJING,

SAYS REPRESENTS FIRST PRACTICAL STAGE TOWARDS NON-NUCLEAR KOREAN PENINSULA

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General strongly welcomes the accord reached at the six-party talks in Beijing on initial actions to implement the 2005 Joint Statement on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.  The Secretary-General is encouraged that this constructive effort by the international community can eventually result in strengthening the global non-proliferation regime, as well as in contributing to durable peace, security and prosperity in the region.  This agreement represents the first practical stage towards a non-nuclear peninsula.

The Secretary-General also welcomes the commitment by all participants to move expeditiously towards the next stage of this process.  In this regard, the establishment in the immediate future of five working groups should allow the participants to address the wide ranges of issues relating to the region in a comprehensive way.

The Secretary-General urges the participants to make every effort to sustain the current positive momentum and ensure that this accord is implemented as agreed.

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For information media • not an official record