Vietnam supports nuclear non-proliferation

Vietnam persists in supporting efforts against proliferation of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction towards full disarmament, said Ambassador Le Hoai Trung.

Ambassador Trung, Head of the Delegation of Permanent Representatives of Vietnam to the UN, was speaking at the July 27-28 UN General Assembly plenary meeting on revitalising the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in New York.

As an active member of the UN, Vietnam has participated in and seriously fulfilled its obligations to significant international treaties on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, the ambassador said.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam is closely cooperating with ASEAN countries and other partners in implementing Treaty on Nuclear Weapon Free Zone, contributing to maintaining regional peace and security.

The diplomat praised CD’s previous contributions and recognised recent progress in disarmament, naming the effectiveness of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between Russia and the US in February this year and the success of the conference reviewing the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapon in May 2010.

Ambassador Trung called on CD members to early approve a working programme and set up a negotiating mechanism for four major pillars of the agenda: nuclear disarmament, ensuring nuclear security for nations without nuclear weapons, cutting down the production of nuclear fission substance and preventing an arm race in the universe with priority giving to nuclear disarmament.

The strengthening of peace and international security will create an essential environment for disarmament to progress, Trung said.