UN chief urges more efforts to curb nuclear proliferation

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for stepped-up efforts toward curbing the spread of nuclear weapons as he marked the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Describing the UN-backed pact as the most effective multilateral instrument to limit nuclear proliferation, Ban said Tuesday in a statement: "We must reinforce and strengthen it to meet the challenges of the day."

"Yet, tens of thousands of nuclear weapons remain deployed and stockpiled, and significant deeper, irreversible and verifiable cuts are needed," the UN secretary general said.

"Nuclear proliferation -- whether by states or non-state actors -- threatens everyone, and therefore requires global cooperation in addressing non-compliance, in...