MEDIA STATEMENT:

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons welcomes news from Washington that Australian-initiated talks on nuclear disarmament are being met with strong support from the United States. 

ICAN urges the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation (ICNND), co-chaired by Gareth Evans to go further by articulating a clear path to abolish nuclear weapons. It also encourages the Australian government to strengthen its own policies by making it clear nuclear weapons have no role in making Australians secure, and ensuring that Australian facilities and personnel play no part in their possible use.

Associate Professor Tilman Ruff, Non-Government Organisation Advisor to the ICNND and Chair of ICAN said:
 
"The initial outcomes of the ICNND meeting in Washington are encouraging and no task is more important than ensuring nuclear weapons are never again used. That means getting to zero, and President Obama's commitment to this goal provides an opportunity that must be grasped.

"The most useful way the ICNND can be effective is to lay the groundwork for negotiations to start on a comprehensive treaty to abolish nuclear weapon - a Nuclear Weapons Convention. Conventions have already been achieved on chemical and biological weapons, landmines and cluster munitions. A Nuclear Weapons Convention is long overdue, and will provide a clear road map to abolish weapons.  

"We need practical, immediate steps to break the current logjam and get things moving, but we also need to have a picture of the jigsaw puzzle to be able to put all the pieces together.

"The Commission also needs to communicate its work and engage the global public to help generate political will and support change, and ensure the work of the Commission doesn't get buried as the Canberra Commission was.

"If the Australian government is serious about nuclear disarmament, it must ‘walk the talk', no longer shelter under a ‘nuclear umbrella' nor contribute to possible use of these worst weapons of terror. These steps would enormously boost the profile and credibility of the government and Commission, and make us all safer by reducing the likelihood of Australia being a nuclear target," concluded Professor Ruff.

Media enquiries: Teri Calder, ICAN Communications Officer  

Tel: 0425 230 679  Email: teri@icanw.org