New York – 30 April 2015 – During the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Mr. Jeffrey Salim Waheed, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations, spoke with regards to the topic of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education and the need for immediately, comprehensive disarmament of nuclear stockpiles.
Mr. Waheed pointed out that it has been forty-five years since the international community decided to rid the world of nuclear weapons, with little efficacy. While the Maldives welcomes the little progress that has been made, it lamented the dangers of nuclear proliferation, and expressed the hope that the existing stockpiles are drastically reduced and eventually destroyed.
The Maldives criticized that there are still countries that expand their nuclear arms and continue research into new nuclear warheads. Mr. Waheed underscored this represents facts are steps backwards which the international community cannot afford to take. It further called upon the leaders of all nations to listen to the continued calls for peace and disarmament. “Collectively: all countries, big and small alike, we have to stand together, side by side, and choose to close this dark chapter of human history”.
ENDS
