Abdullah Calls For Commitment To Total Elimination Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on the international community to remain committed to the total elimination of weapons of mass destruction to establish real peace and security in the world and prevent war.

In his message at the 2008 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs in Hiroshima, Japan, the prime minister said the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction was the best guarantee against another nuclear holocaust.

He said there was no doubt that the path towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons would be long and arduous and the progress towards achieving the objective would be slow because of the existence of different views as well as self-interest and the absence of political will.

"However, we must continue to persevere in these efforts.

"We must remain committed to the total elimination of weapons of mass destruction as an essential prerequisite for the establishment of real peace and security in the world and the prevention of war," he said.

The message was read out by Malaysian ambassador to Japan Datuk Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman during the conference's plenary session yesterday.

The conference from Aug 2 to 9 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was attended by 10,000 participation.

Abdullah said Malaysia would support all efforts of the international community to pursue nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

He said all nations should commit themselves to fully implementing the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

"Governments must work towards achieving a Nuclear Weapons Convention. Civil society can play an important role in galvanising public opinion in support of such a convention," he said.

Abdullah also acknowledged that the annual gathering was an important gathering to convey a united message to the leaders of the world to work towards eliminating such weapons.

"It is also a solemn event to remind the international community that the continuing existence of weapons of mass destruction and their proliferation make the world unsafe and a dangerous place to live in," he said.

-- BERNAMA