Foreign Minister Tuomioja calls for ratification of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty

Press Release 92/2005
15 March 2005


Speaking at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Tuesday, 15 March, Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja voiced his concern over the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. In his address, Tuomioja also drew attention to the possible interest of terrorist groups to acquire weapons of mass destruction, and he stressed the importance of concerted efforts in eliminating such a possibility.

Tuomioja expressed Finland’s strong support for the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, which will have its Review Conference in New York in May. The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty must remain a cornerstone of international security and stability. In this speech the Foreign Minister made references to recent worrisome developments; among others, the cases of North Korea and Iran.

Previously the Geneva Conference on Disarmament has successfully negotiated, for instance, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty, which as yet has not entered into force. Foreign Minister Tuomioja urged all nations to work toward ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty

The Geneva Conference on Disarmament has not been able to pursue its mandate – that is, to negotiate on disarmament treaties – for about eight years. In Tuomioja’s view, to regain its position as an international forum for negotiation, the Conference on Disarmament should engage in negotiations with a view to banning the production of material for nuclear weapons.

Foreign Minister Tuomioja’s entire speech

Addititional information: Laura Kansikas, Head of Unit, Unit for Arms Control, tel. +358 9 160 56185 and Minister Counsellor Harri Mäki-Reinikka, tel. + 41 22 919 42 48.