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UN: Nuclear Powers Pledge To Eliminate Atomic Weapons


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.
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