Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomes new START agreement

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin T.D., today welcomed the signing of the New Strategic Arms Reduction (START) Treaty by President Obama and President Medvedev in Prague today. The Minister recalled that “it was in Prague one year ago that President Obama outlined his vision of a world without nuclear weapons, a goal which Ireland has long worked towards. The new agreement signed today by the leaders of Russia and the United States is a positive step along that road, and a concrete example of the progress in this vital endeavour.” 

The Minister went on to urge all those who wish to see an end to the role which nuclear weapons have played in the world over the past 60 years to now seize the momentum created by the New START agreement. This was especially important at the current time, as almost 190 States gather next month for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York.

The Minister also hoped that the US Nuclear Posture Review, released this week, which confirmed that the US is intent on reducing the role which nuclear weapons have previously played in its approach to national security, will impact positively on preparations for the NPT Review Conference.

Note for Editors:

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference takes place every five years. The 2010 Conference will take place at the UN in New York from 3-28 May 2010. 

The 2010 United States Nuclear Posture Review was released on 6 April 2010 in Washington by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates. It sets out US nuclear policy, strategy, capabilities and force posture for the next five to ten years.

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