Pacific small island states say no to nuclear weapons

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Picture taken in 1971, showing a nuclear explosion in Mururoa atoll. Photo: AFP

“The world does not need nuclear weapons.”

Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made this comment in his Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) statement yesterday on the commemoration and promotion of International Day Against Nuclear Explosions.

He said PSIDS had suffered the effects of nuclear testing in the region.

“More than 300 nuclear tests were carried out in the Pacific from 1946 to 1996 – in the atmosphere, underground and underwater,” Mr Bainimarama said in the statement.

“Our communities living close to ‘ground zero’ were relocated from their ancestral islands and restricted from using the ocean resources for their livelihoods, and they faced an increase in related health problems.

“At the end of these nuclear tests, radio-active waste and machinery were either buried or dumped into the Pacific Ocean. Today, we still do not know the full impact of these nuclear tests on our environment and communities.”

Mr Bainimarama said the Pacific Community considered themselves the custodians of the vast blue Pacific Ocean.

“The Pacific Ocean defines who we are; it serves as the foundation of our economies, our environment, and the well-being of our communities.

“We have a vision that the blue Pacific Ocean will become an ocean of peace and prosperity for our people and the world.”

Mr Bainimarama said protecting the blue Pacific Ocean was of paramount importance to our future.

He said it could only become an ocean of peace if it was nuclear-free.

He said stopping the development of nuclear weapons and eliminating them altogether would free up much-needed global resources to assist vulnerable communities, and those around the world, in fighting the effects of climate change.

“The world does not need nuclear weapons.

“The challenges of nuclear disarmament can only be resolved by a strengthened multilateral system that sets the conditions for transparency, confidence-building, and co-operation.”

The Fijian PM said the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) were crucial if Pacific islands were to further the objective of reducing and eliminating nuclear weapons.

“Today, we PSIDSs say no to nuclear weapons, and we reiterate our commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons everywhere.

“We encourage member states to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

“It is morally right, and we owe it to ourselves and our future generations.”

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