The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:
Thirty years ago, on 5 March 1970, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) entered into force. The event was acclaimed then as the most important international agreement in the field of disarmament since the start of the nuclear age and a major success for the cause of peace. The Treaty has since become and remains the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. Its membership has steadily grown to 187 States parties today.
On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the NPT's entry into force, the Secretary-General would like to stress that in order to achieve the ultimate objective of a world free of nuclear weapons, the international community should immediately start taking new and effective measures to achieve the inherently linked goals of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Efforts to seek the elimination of all nuclear weapons must remain a high priority.
The Secretary-General hopes that all parties to the NTP will rededicate themselves to unceasing efforts to implement all of their obligations under the Treaty. The forthcoming 2000 NPT Review Conference (24 April to 19 May) would be an excellent opportunity for all parties to reaffirm their commitment to the Treaty.
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