Speeches & Interviews

Each state has the right to peaceful nuclear programs, Voronetsky says

MINSK, 3 May (BelTA) - In accordance with the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), each state has an inherent right to peaceful nuclear activities, Belarus’ permanent representative to the international organizations based in Vienna Valery Voronetsky said when speaking at the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference (NPT). The event is held in Vienna from 30 April till 11 May.

Valery Voronetsky stressed the importance of achieving the strategic objective of the Treaty, namely nuclear disarmament. According to Belarus, non-proliferation efforts by the international community should be accompanied by concrete steps to promote nuclear disarmament, develop confidence-building measures between nuclear and non-nuclear states.

In this regard, particular attention was paid to the issue of provision to the non-nuclear states - parties to the NPT of legally binding assurances of non-use of nuclear weapons by nuclear-weapon states.

Such security assurances are considered by the Belarusian side as a pledge of confidence and predictability in relations between states. We are also convinced that providing such assurances would help strengthen the non-proliferation regime and achieve full universalization of the Treaty, said Valery Voronetsky.

The head of the Belarusian delegation informed the participants of the session about Belarus’ activities to strengthen the international non-proliferation regime. In particular, it was noted that Belarus attaches great importance to strengthening of the safeguards system based on the NPT provisions under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Belarusian representative noted that, taking into account NPT provisions and the IAEA Statute, every member state has an inherent right for peaceful nuclear activities. Valery Voronetsky said that international mechanisms should promote equal nondiscriminatory access to nuclear energy benefits for all interested parties. 

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