United Nations, 2 May 2000 (RFE/RL) -- The world's five main nuclear powers
have made what they call an "unequivocal commitment" to rid the globe of atomic
weapons. In a joint statement yesterday, the United States, Russia, France,
Britain and China said their ultimate goal was the complete elimination of
nuclear weapons under international controls. But the five states gave no
timetable or specific steps to be taken. The statement was criticized by arms control groups and non-nuclear
nations, who said it did not go far enough. The U.S. and Russia, the countries
with the biggest nuclear arsenals, were criticized in particular for moving too
slowly, if at all, to get rid of their atomic weapons.
The statement was presented at the nuclear non-proliferation conference at the United Nations in New York.
The statement was presented at the nuclear non-proliferation conference at the United Nations in New York.