EU pushes for cuts in global nuclear arsenal
The 27-nation European Union - including two nuclear powers, France and the UK - is set to become a leading force behind global nuclear disarmament efforts. It is estimated that there are some 2,000 active nuclear weapons in the world, while Iran is believed to be trying to make it into the nine-strong nuclear club.
Earlier this month (5 December), French leader Nicolas Sarkozy wrote a letter to UN chief Ban Ki-Moon floating a number of ideas in the area of nuclear arms control. The letter, written on behalf of the entire EU bloc, was made public on Monday (8 December).
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Among other things, the EU is calling on the international community to sign up to a "comprehensive test ban treaty" and to promptly "dismantle all nuclear test installations."
It is also suggesting to introduce an immediate and unconditional ban on production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons, to reduce the global stock of such weapons as well as to kick off talks on a treaty banning surface-to-surface, short and medium range missiles.
According to media reports, Mr Sarkozy said he hoped the international community would join the EU in giving life to its plan of action.
"We are convinced of the necessity to work for general disarmament ...Europe has already done a lot for disarmament [and] is ready to do more," the French president was cited as saying by AP.
Currently, the global nuclear club officially consists of eight states - the US, Russia, France, the UK, China, India, Pakistan and North Korea - while Israel is also believed to be a nuclear power. Tel Aviv has never admitted nor denied possession of a nuclear arsenal.
The biggest concern centers around the Iranian nuclear programme that the West believes is aimed at developing a new military capability. Tehran says it wants to use enriched uranium only as fuel in nuclear power plants for civil purposes, however.