“Given the current situation in which North Korea represents a huge threat to the whole world, a total ban on nuclear testing is more important than ever before”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó declared at the ministerial conference on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) held within the framework of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In his speech, the Foreign Minister highlighted. “Since the adoption of the Treaty in 1996, practically every UN member state has refrained from conducting nuclear tests”.

“The international community must remain unified against the threat posed by North Korea”, he stressed, adding that “It is totally unacceptable, but the reality today is that a ‘mad socialist dictator’ is posing a threat to the entire world”.

Mr. Szijjártó said that in his view the case of North Korea is an excellent example of the possible consequences if the Treaty were to fail. “The Treaty that was adopted twenty years ago must receive greater support”, he emphasised.

Mr. Szijjártó called on those countries that have significant nuclear capacities to sign and ratify the Treaty.

The Minister also spoke about the peaceful applications of nuclear energy. “Hungary is committed to the peaceful use of nuclear energy in view of the fact that is facilitates the diversification of energy sources”, he pointed out.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996, and Hungary joined the Treaty in Washington on 25 September of the same year. The importance of the Treaty lies in the fact that through banning nuclear testing it makes the development of new nuclear weapons systems practically impossible. 183 states have signed the Treaty so far, and it has been ratified by 166 countries. Countries that have failed to sign the agreement so far include, amongst others, the Unites States, Israel, India and Pakistan.

(MTI)