Disappointed at Inability of Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference to Agree on Text, Secretary-General Urges Sustained Efforts in Pursuit of Nuclear Disarmament

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

The Secretary-General expresses his disappointment at the inability of the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to reach consensus on a substantive outcome.  The Secretary-General regrets in particular that States parties were unable to narrow their differences on the future of nuclear disarmament or to arrive at a new collective vision on how to achieve a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction.

The Secretary-General appeals to all States to sustain the momentum they have built over the past five years, including new initiatives in the pursuit of nuclear disarmament and continuing efforts to strengthen nuclear non-proliferation.  With respect to the Middle East, the Secretary-General continues to stand ready to support efforts to promote and sustain the inclusive regional dialogue necessary to achieve this goal.

He hopes that the growing awareness of the devastating humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons continues to compel urgent actions for effective measures leading to the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons.

The Secretary-General expresses his sincere appreciation to Ambassador Taous Feroukhi (Algeria), in presiding over the Conference, for her determined and tireless efforts to seek a consensus outcome that would have achieved the aspirations of the States parties.