Secretary-General ‘Wholeheartedly’ Endorses Communiqué Adopted by 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, Action Plan in Support of United Nations

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

The Secretary-General welcomes the outcome of the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit.  He wholeheartedly endorses the communiqué adopted by the participating States, as well as the action plan in support of the United Nations.  These will help to ensure that the gains made through this process will be sustained in the future.

The Secretary-General outlined a number of areas where more focus is needed moving forward.  This included sustaining high-level political momentum, developing concrete recommendations on the nexus between nuclear terrorism and cybersecurity, and for the international community to bridge the gap on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

The efforts of the United Nations in confronting the global challenge of nuclear terrorism rest on two pillars.  The first is Security Council resolution 1540 (2004).  States, industry and civil society all have key roles to play in implementing its mandate and provisions so that all Member States can rise to the challenge.  The second is the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.  Universal adherence to this Convention is crucial.  All remaining States should join.  We need to step up our efforts to build the capacities of States parties.

The United Nations has a key role to play in responding to any use or threat of use by terrorists of nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological materials.  This includes by strengthening information-sharing on terrorist and foreign terrorist fighters, as well as improving border controls and national capacities and strategies.  In case any use results in a complex emergency that transcends national and international capacities, the United Nations is prepared to coordinate the response in the humanitarian and other areas in assisting Member States.

Finally, the international community must pursue broader measures of prevention in the context of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, in particular by addressing the conditions conducive to terrorism, especially preventing violent extremism, stopping the flow of foreign fighters, blocking terrorist financing, and working to promote human rights and sustainable development.