Minister Dion welcomes UN High Representative for Disarmament
News Release
May 2, 2016 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today met with Kim Won-soo, UN Under Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, during the High Representative’s visit to Ottawa.
Minister Dion took the opportunity to reaffirm the Government of Canada’s commitment to support the work of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) to strengthen multilateral approaches and strategies, including the Arms Trade Treaty and other arms control mechanisms, aimed at reducing threats posed by the proliferation of conventional weapons.
Minister Dion and High Representative Won-soo also exchanged views on how Canada can work with the UN and with other countries to prevent and counter the proliferation of nuclear weapons, with the ultimate goal of completely eliminating them.
Quotes
“Canada’s efforts are now more than ever focused on the importance of banning the production of the key components of nuclear weapons, which could be achieved through the immediate negotiation of a fissile material cut-off treaty. It has been more than half a century since the United Nations embarked on creating this treaty, so it is about time that Canada and other nations turn their attention to negotiating it.”
- Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Quick facts
- The UNODA was established in 1998 to promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation; strengthening of disarmament regimes with respect to other weapons of mass destruction, and chemical and biological weapons; as well as disarmament efforts in the area of conventional weapons, especially landmines and small arms.
- The fissile material cut-off treaty is the proposed international agreement that would prohibit the production of the materials that provide nuclear weapons with their explosive power: highly-enriched uranium and reprocessed plutonium.
- The Arms Trade Treaty sets common standards for the international trade in a broad range of conventional arms, including battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large-calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers, as well as small arms and light weapons.
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