Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Professor Joy Ogwu, has been elected to serve as the President of the United Nations' Confab on Small Arms and Light Weapon.
?
Our Correspondent in the United Nations reports that Ambassador Joy Ogwu, a former Foreign Affairs Minister in Nigeria, was elected to head the nine day confab based on the outstanding contributions of the federal government towards the UN's campaigns against small arms and light weapons.
?
Speaking at the review, Prof. Joy Ogwu complained that United Nations member-states had walked from a “strong draft text”, at negotiations for an arms trade treaty that Nigeria had been leading, stressing that the Nigerian government would work towards finalizing a strong and effective arms trade treaty as soon as possible.
?
She also called on United Nations member states to avoid past setbacks which she said had affected review of the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms, adding that countries should instead ensure a strong and credible review during the present conference.
?
However, ?UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon who was speaking at the third annual International Day against Nuclear Tests yesterday, stressed the importance of a global ban on nuclear tests to achieve a safer and more secure world, calling on all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the international treaty that seeks to achieve this goal.
?
“Nuclear tests remain a threat to human health and global stability,” Mr. Ban said.
?
Mr. Ban called attention to the harmful and long-lasting effects of testing, as well as the continued danger posed by the existence of tens of thousands of nuclear weapons.
?
“Around the world, symposia, conferences, exhibitions and competitions are being held to raise public awareness and galvanize action to finally end nuclear tests,” he stated. “To achieve this goal, States that have not yet signed and ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) must do so without delay.”
?
The CTBT, which aims to establish a verifiable, permanent global ban on all types of nuclear explosive tests, enjoys near-universal support but has yet to enter into force. The Secretary-General is the depositary of the treaty, which, as of today, has been signed by 183 States and ratified by 157.
?
Ratification by eight so-called Annex 2 States is required for the treaty to enter into force. They are China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, and the United States.
?
Pending the treaty’s entry into force, Mr. Ban urged all States to uphold the current moratorium on all nuclear test explosions.
?
“However, while existing voluntary moratoriums on nuclear weapon tests are essential, they are no substitute for a total global ban,” he reminded them.