The secretary-general made the statement in his message to the opening of a month-long review conference of the parties to the NPT. The message was read by Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson to the conference, which runs from April 27 to May 22. 

 

"Eliminating nuclear weapons is a top priority for the United Nations," Ban said. "No other weapon has the potential to inflict¹ such wanton destruction on our world." 

 

According to the UN chief, the Non-Proliferation Treaty is the cornerstone of the non-proliferation regime and an essential basis for realizing a nuclear-weapon-free world. 

 

Conferences to review the operation of the treaty have been held at five-year intervals² since the treaty went into effect in 1970. Each conference has sought to find agreement on a final declaration that would assess the implementation³ of the treaty's provisions and make recommendations on measures to further strengthen it. 

 

"I call upon States parties to work hard and constructively⁴ in the coming weeks to produce an outcome that strengthens the treaty," the secretary-general said. "We need an outcome that promotes its universality, ensures compliance⁵ by all Parties with all provisions, and reinforces the NPT's principal goals which are to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and bring about their elimination⁶." 

 

He urged all parties to build on common ground, be inclusive and show flexibility⁷.

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