U.N. resolution aims at nuclear-free world

By The Associated Press Comments 8
Published: September 25, 2009

UNITED NATIONS — With President Barack Obama presiding, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a U.S.-sponsored resolution Thursday committing all nations to work for a world free of nuclear weapons.

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→After a 10-year gap, the United States on Thursday rejoined a biennial conference designed to win more support for the treaty banning all nuclear bomb tests. Foreign ministers and other envoys from more than 100 nations that have ratified or at least signed the 1996 treaty were joined by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Russia, China and developing nations supported the measure, giving it global clout and strong political backing.

The resolution calls for stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote disarmament and "reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism.”

It calls for better security for nuclear weapons materials and underscores the Security Council’s intention to take action if such material or nuclear weapons get into the hands of terrorists.

The resolution consolidated many elements previously endorsed individually in the Security Council or other international forums.

But bringing them together in a single document, voted on by global leaders, should add political momentum to efforts to achieve these goals, particularly at important conferences next year on nuclear security and on strengthening the Nonproliferation Treaty.

It was only the fifth time the Security Council met at summit level since the U.N. was founded in 1945. The U.S. holds the rotating council presidency this month and Obama was the first American president to preside over a summit.