Today President Obama chaired a historic session of the UN Security Council solely focused on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The meeting affirmed President Obama’s commitment and agenda as he announced it on April 5, 2009 in Prague “to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons”. For an expert’s views on the meeting see Jonathan Granoff’s blog post today
With this new energy 2010 can become an important year for disarmament. Let’s also hope that the US Administration’s new-found energy and enthusiasm for disarmament will also spill over to the realm of conventional weapons, responsible for the death of more than 2000 people every day.
In October, the UN 1st committee will decide whether 2010 will also be the year when negotiations finally gets under way on a much needed Arms Trade Treaty to regulate trade and transfers of all conventional weapons and ammunitions. If we are to achieve Obama’s vision of security in a world free of nuclear weapons it is vital that we also make significant progress to control conventional arms.
Obama’s meeting today was an important forwards. Now it’s up to all of us, states and civil society, to do what we can to make 2010 the breakthrough year it could be.
Take action and follow progress towards and Arms Trade Treaty on this blog and at www.controlarms.org
