BY ALICE T CAMPBELL
Solomon Islands has joined Pacific nations in reaffirming its dedication to a world free of nuclear weapons at the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), currently underway at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Deputy Permanent Representative Ms. Fiona Indu delivered a statement on behalf of the 13 States Parties to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga), marking its 40th anniversary, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade (MFAET) yesterday said.
She highlighted the Pacific’s nuclear-free legacy, born out of the devastation of decades of nuclear testing, and stressed the ongoing impacts felt by communities across generations.
The States Parties call for global recognition and assistance to address nuclear legacy issues in the Pacific, including hazardous waste and unexploded ordnance, the statement said.
They urge all countries to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the NPT, while pressing nuclear-weapon states to meet their disarmament obligations.
Ms. Indu emphasised that rising nuclear risks and weakening arms control frameworks make disarmament more urgent than ever.
“Now, more than ever, it is incumbent upon all States, particularly nuclear-weapon States, to fulfil their disarmament obligations and work towards a world free of nuclear weapons,” she said.
Solomon Islands, a State Party to the NPT since 1981, continues to support global disarmament, non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Its delegation will actively participate in discussions under the three Main Committees reviewing the Treaty’s implementation until the conference concludes on May 22, 2026.
Photo: MFAET
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