Tuesday, March 25, 2014, 14:59
UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned against using the crisis in Ukraine as a justification for the desire to obtain nuclear weapons. He said this at the beginning of the nuclear security summit, which takes place from 24 to 25 March in The Hague, according to news agency AFP. “In Ukraine’s case, the security guarantees were fundamental condition of Ukraine’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,” – said Ban Ki-moon.
According to the UN Secretary General, the reliability of the guarantees provided to Ukraine by the Budapest Memorandum is “seriously undermined” by the current events in the Crimea. According to Ban Ki-moon, the consequences of conflict around the Crimea for the national security of Ukraine and for national regulations on non-nuclear weapons are deep. “But this cannot justify the desire for nuclear weapons, which would only have increased the insecurity and isolation,” he added.
Security guarantees of nuclear powers in relation to countries that do not have nuclear weapons must be followed, urged the UN Secretary General. These guarantees must be “binding and unambiguous,” said Ban Ki -Moon. “Together we must ensure that nuclear weapons are seen as a burden rather than as a force”.
According to the Budapest Memorandum signed in 1994, the USA, UK, and Russia pledged to respect the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine in response to the non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons act signed by Kyiv.
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/24/7020170/
