Blix: US must halt own nuke program

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 11:42:40
The head of the UN Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission, Hans Blix, has said that the US should stop proliferating nuclear weapons.

At a ceremony in Madrid for the release of his book titled "Weapons of Terror" Blix said that if the US genuinely wants to prevent the proliferation of other nation's nuclear programs, it should present itself as a role model and "completely" halt the development of its nuclear arms.

Nuclear nations should try to meet their defensive military needs through conventional weapons like the rest of the world, Blix suggested, adding that they should also participate in nuclear disarmament measures and secure a prohibition on atomic weapons.

Blix also described as "demeaning" the pre-conditions set on Iran for the resumption of nuclear talks with the Islamic Republic.

"Suspension of uranium enrichment as a pre-condition goes against Tehran's credibility," said Blix, adding, however, that it would be a welcomed move if Iran were to temporarily suspend its enrichment activity as a gesture of good faith.

He likened the UN Security Council members to fathers who smoke but who prohibit their children from smoking.

The chief of the UN Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission also said that before the creation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968, five countries had atomic bombs but that nine nations have now developed nuclear arsenals.

According to Blix, non-nuclear nations feel that the nuclear countries have not pursued disarmament in the post-NPT era but have tried to prevent other nations from developing nuclear technology.

"This amounts to a big defeat to the NPT," Blix said.

There are currently 27,000 warheads in the world, 12,000 of which are in the US and European countries.

Blix called on the US and Russia to resume talks on a new treaty within the framework of an additional NPT protocol, which would reduce strategic weapons.

The US has not yet signed the protocol.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=5980&sectionid=3510101