Pacific Small Island Developing States reaffirm commitment to a nuclear free world
Prime Minister, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama in his capacity as the Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States ( PSIDS), called on World Leaders to advance the United Nation’s mandate to create a “Nuclear Free World”.
Delivering a statement by video link yesterday on behalf of PSIDS at the “Commemoration and Promotion of International Day against Nuclear Explosions,” an event hosted by the President of 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, at the margins of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 75). PM Bainimarama said that PSIDS had suffered the impacts of the nuclear testing in the region, with more than 300 nuclear tests that were carried out in the Pacific from 1946 to 1996—in the atmosphere, underground and underwater. “Our communities living close to ‘ground zero’ were relocated from their ancestral islands and restricted from using the ocean resources for their livelihoods, and they faced an increase in related health problems. At the end of these nuclear tests, radio-active waste and machinery were either buried or dumped into the Pacific Ocean,” he said.
Mr Bainimarama conveyed PSIDS tribute to the foresight and efforts of the region’s leaders, civil society and people who have strived to establish a South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, and finally put an end to nuclear testing in parts of the Pacific Ocean.
He said that “Nuclear Free” is an important factor in achieving the PSIDS vision on Blue Pacific Ocean’s prosperity and its commitment to advancing SDGs. He said that being nuclear free was an intrinsic element of the Blue Pacific. “The world does not need nuclear weapons. The challenges of nuclear disarmament can only be resolved by a strengthened multilateral system that sets the conditions for transparency, confidencebuilding and co-operation.
“The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) are crucial if we are to further the objective of reducing and eliminating nuclear weapons.
“Today, we PSIDSs say no to nuclear weapons, and we reiterate our commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons everywhere. We encourage member states to ratify the CTBT and the TPNW.
“It is morally right, and we owe it to ourselves and our future generations,” PM Bainimarama emphasised to the UN officials.