UN approves treaty to ban nuclear weapons
(VOVWORLD) -The UN approved the first-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons Friday. The treaty requires of all ratifying countries "never under any circumstances to develop, test, produce, manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices."
 (Photo: AP) |
The treaty also bans any transfer or use of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and the threat to use such weapons. However, the US, the UK, France and countries that possess nuclear weapons did not take part in the treaty’s negotiations.
The treaty will be opened for signatures on September 20 and will take effect after 50 countries have ratified it.
Head of Vietnam Mission to the UN, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga said the approval of the treaty sends a significant political message on the people’s determination and aspiration for a world free from nuclear weapons. She said Vietnam was active during the negotiation process and worked closely with other countries to reflect as much as possible the interests of non-nuclear nations.