Secretary-General, on Fiftieth Anniversary of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’s Opening for Signature, Urges All States to Ensure Accord’s Continued Vitality

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General congratulates the 191 States that have joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty’s opening for signature on 1 July 1968.

The NPT is an essential pillar of international peace and security, and the heart of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.  Its unique status is based on its near-universal membership, legally binding obligations on disarmament, verifiable non-proliferation safeguards regime, and commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The Secretary-General urges all States parties to ensure the NPT’s continued health and vitality, especially in the lead up to the 2020 Review Conference, the fiftieth anniversary of its entry into force.

He also welcomes the joint statement on this occasion by the NPT’s depositories, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, including their recommitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons, a central priority of his agenda for disarmament, “Securing our Common Future”.