Secretary-General Disappointed by Inability of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference to Agree on Substantive Outcome, Strengthen Accord’s Goals

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

The Secretary-General expresses his disappointment at the inability of the tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to reach consensus on a substantive outcome and to capitalize on this opportunity to strengthen the Non-Proliferation Treaty and advance its goals.

While the Secretary-General welcomes the sincere and meaningful engagement by Non-Proliferation Treaty parties and the fact that the Conference recognized the Treaty as the “cornerstone” of the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime, he regrets that it was unable to address the pressing challenges that are threatening our collective security.

The fraught international environment and the heightened risk of nuclear weapons being used, by accident or through miscalculation, demand urgent and resolute action.  The Secretary-General appeals to all States to use every avenue of dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiation to ease tensions, reduce nuclear risk and eliminate the nuclear threat once and for all.

A world free of nuclear weapons remains the United Nations’ highest disarmament priority and a goal to which the Secretary-General remains firmly committed.

The Secretary-General expresses his sincere appreciation to Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen (Argentina), President of the Review Conference, for his vigorous efforts to facilitate agreement on an outcome document.