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UN council endorses nuclear curbs UN council endorses nuclear curbs
(about 1 hour later)
The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for nuclear disarmament, in a session chaired by US President Barack Obama.The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for nuclear disarmament, in a session chaired by US President Barack Obama.
The resolution calls for further efforts to stop the spread of nuclear arms, to boost disarmament and to lower the risk of "nuclear terrorism".The resolution calls for further efforts to stop the spread of nuclear arms, to boost disarmament and to lower the risk of "nuclear terrorism".
It was the first time a US president had chaired a Security Council summit.It was the first time a US president had chaired a Security Council summit.
The resolution comes amid growing concerns among Western powers over Iran's nuclear ambitions.The resolution comes amid growing concerns among Western powers over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
READ UN RESOLUTION Security Council resolution in full [39.56KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Q&A: Nuclear disarmament
"The historic resolution we just adopted enshrines our shared commitment to the goal of a world without nuclear weapons," Mr Obama told the Security Council after the resolution was adopted."The historic resolution we just adopted enshrines our shared commitment to the goal of a world without nuclear weapons," Mr Obama told the Security Council after the resolution was adopted.
He said the next year would be "absolutely critical in determining whether this resolution and our overall efforts to stop the spread and use of nuclear weapons are successful".He said the next year would be "absolutely critical in determining whether this resolution and our overall efforts to stop the spread and use of nuclear weapons are successful".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the resolution "a fresh start toward a new future".UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the resolution "a fresh start toward a new future".
'Proliferation risk''Proliferation risk'
The resolution does not specifically mention countries by name, such as North Korea and Iran, but reaffirms previous Security Council resolutions relating to their nuclear plans.The resolution does not specifically mention countries by name, such as North Korea and Iran, but reaffirms previous Security Council resolutions relating to their nuclear plans.
READ UN RESOLUTION class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/24_09_09draftresolution.pdf">Security Council resolution in full [39.56KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here class="" href="/2/hi/in_depth/6103398.stm">Q&A: Nuclear disarmament ANALYSIS Jonathan Marcus, BBC News, New York
The unanimous backing for the US-drafted resolution is a measure of the growing sense of urgency.
There is a growing fear amongst disarmament experts both inside and outside government that the whole machinery intended to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons - whose cornerstone is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT - is looking increasingly fragile.
The NPT agreement is up for revision in May and the new consensus at the UN Security Council sends a powerful signal that this key agreement must be bolstered.
Iran's nuclear programme has been criticised by the US and five nations who are set to hold talks next week.Iran's nuclear programme has been criticised by the US and five nations who are set to hold talks next week.
Iran says its nuclear ambitions are for peaceful energy purposes, but others fear it is developing weapons.Iran says its nuclear ambitions are for peaceful energy purposes, but others fear it is developing weapons.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reflected those fears in his speech to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, saying that stopping Iran acquiring nuclear weapons was the world's most urgent task.
After the resolution was passed, Iran rejected allegations about its nuclear programme as "totally untrue" and reiterated its "readiness to engage in serious and constructive negotiations with interested parties".After the resolution was passed, Iran rejected allegations about its nuclear programme as "totally untrue" and reiterated its "readiness to engage in serious and constructive negotiations with interested parties".
The resolution commits member nations to work toward a world without nuclear weapons, and endorses a broad framework of actions to reduce global nuclear risks.The resolution commits member nations to work toward a world without nuclear weapons, and endorses a broad framework of actions to reduce global nuclear risks.
It also urges states to:It also urges states to:
  • join and comply with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
  • refrain from testing nuclear weapons and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
  • ensure safeguards of nuclear material and prevent trafficking
  • join and comply with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
  • refrain from testing nuclear weapons and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
  • ensure safeguards of nuclear material and prevent trafficking
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Mr Obama is trying to build up momentum ahead of a crucial review of the non-proliferation treaty next May.
Mr Obama stressed that the US would play its part, seeking a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia and moving ahead with ratification of the test ban treaty.Mr Obama stressed that the US would play its part, seeking a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia and moving ahead with ratification of the test ban treaty.
"Although we averted a nuclear nightmare during the Cold War, we now face proliferation of a scope and complexity that demands new strategies and new approaches," Mr Obama said."Although we averted a nuclear nightmare during the Cold War, we now face proliferation of a scope and complexity that demands new strategies and new approaches," Mr Obama said.
"Just one nuclear weapon exploded in a city, be it New York or Moscow, Tokyo or Beijing, London or Paris, could kill hundreds of thousands of people.""Just one nuclear weapon exploded in a city, be it New York or Moscow, Tokyo or Beijing, London or Paris, could kill hundreds of thousands of people."
'Preposterous' allegations'Preposterous' allegations
Also on Thursday, a UN ministerial conference adopted a declaration urging compliance with the CTBT, which has been signed or ratified by 100 countries since 1996.Also on Thursday, a UN ministerial conference adopted a declaration urging compliance with the CTBT, which has been signed or ratified by 100 countries since 1996.
UN ON THURSDAY Security Council: Nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament General Debate: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuJapanese Prime Minister Yukio HatoyamaVenezuelan President Hugo ChavezIraqi President Jalal TalabaniGeorgian President Mikhail Saakashvili China firm on Iran sanctions Debuts and diatribes at the UN UN Assembly: Key Issues UN ON THURSDAY Security Council: Nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament General Debate: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuJapanese Prime Minister Yukio HatoyamaVenezuelan President Hugo ChavezIraqi President Jalal TalabaniGeorgian President Mikhail Saakashvili China firm on Iran sanctions Debuts and diatribes at the UN UN Assembly: Key Issues
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presence at the meeting marked the first US participation at the biannual conference since 1999, when the US Senate refused to ratify the treaty.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presence at the meeting marked the first US participation at the biannual conference since 1999, when the US Senate refused to ratify the treaty.
On Wednesday, the first day of the United Nations General Assembly, Iran's plans came under fire from several world leaders. On Wednesday, the first day of the UN General Assembly, Iran's plans came under fire from several world leaders, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Iranian leaders were "making a tragic mistake" if they thought the international community would not respond. Russia signalled that it might be prepared to soften its opposition to sanctions against Iran over its nuclear plans, though China, another Security Council member, said increasing pressure on Iran would not be effective.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Iran - and North Korea - that the world would be even tougher on proliferation. But in a statement circulated outside the Security Council on Thursday, Iran said France and the UK had not complied with their own nuclear disarmament obligations, and were therefore not in a position to judge others.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signalled that Moscow might be prepared to soften its opposition to sanctions against Iran over its nuclear plans.
But the Chinese foreign ministry said that increasing pressure on Iran would not be effective.
In a statement circulated outside the Security Council on Thursday, Iran said France and the UK had not complied with their own nuclear disarmament obligations, and were therefore not in a position to judge others.
It accused Mr Sarkozy of making "preposterous" claims, and said the UK "deliberately and cynically [had] ignored its legal commitments" to the NPT.It accused Mr Sarkozy of making "preposterous" claims, and said the UK "deliberately and cynically [had] ignored its legal commitments" to the NPT.
"Our commitment to non-proliferation remains intact," the statement said."Our commitment to non-proliferation remains intact," the statement said.