| | |  Americas & Beyond | September 2009 
Nuclear Accord Reached at United Nations
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September 25, 2009
| | (Artwork: Winston Smith) | |
President Barack Obama shepherded a unanimous vote through the United Nations General Assembly yesterday to halt the proliferation of nuclear weapons around the world. The vote curbs the proliferation and testing of nuclear weapons, and moves toward total global disarmament.
The text of the UN resolution did not recognize the difficulties involved in securing such a goal, but Obama highlighted the challenges that lie ahead. "The next 12 months will be absolutely critical," said Obama after the vote, "in determining whether this resolution and our overall efforts to stop the spread and use of nuclear weapons are successful."
The most immediate challenge to halting the proliferation of nuclear arms is the nation of Iran, which revealed this week the existence of a second, previously undisclosed uranium-enrichment facility southwest of Tehran, which is believed to have as many as 3,000 centrifuges that could begin production as early as next year. The United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency have demanded access to the facility for inspection.
On October 1, a meeting between Iran and the five permanent Security Council members - the US, France, the UK, China and Russia - will be held in Geneva. The purpose of the meeting is to determine whether or not Iran is willing to limit its nuclear program. Iran has held fast to their claim that their nuclear program is meant only for the manufacture of power and not weaponry, but many Western governments have their doubts.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its readiness to engage in serious and constructive negotiations with interested parties," said Iran in a statement. "At the same time, we believe that as a prerequisite for success in future negotiations, futile and illegal demands of the past years that have proven to be of no avail should be abandoned."
Hans Blix, former chief UN weapons inspector, said of the new accord, "If the US and China go ahead, then the chances are that India, Pakistan, Israel and others would do the same as well. It would be a great thing if one could get a complete ban on all nuclear tests in the future. One needs to make use of both inducements and disincentives. In the case of Iran, I think there has been a bit too much talk of the disincentives, that's to say the punishment and the sanctions. I think that the economic sanctions can have some value in showing them that the whole world would like to have their enrichment under some control. But we have not heard the United States saying that they might extend diplomatic recognition and open diplomatic relations, or that they would be willing, with others, to give a guarantee against attack on Iran providing Iran would be willing to settle on the enrichment issue."
"We harbor no illusions about the difficulty of bringing about a world without nuclear weapons," said President Obama of the accord. "We know there are plenty of cynics, and that there will be setbacks to prove their point. But there will also be days like today to push us forward - days that tell a different story."
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