Putin: Russia consistently fulfills all provisions of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Russia has been consistently compliant with the NPT, specifically its Article VI, and intends to continue the efforts in this direction. Russian President Vladimir Putin says in his address to the participants and guests of the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.

“Russia has been consistently compliant with the NPT, specifically its Article VI. We have reduced our nuclear arsenal to a minimum, which is a significant contribution to overall complete disarmament,” – Putin says in the address, the text of which is published by the UN Headquarters. “We intend to continue our efforts in this direction and to retain the balance between the development of the peaceful atom and the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime, including the IAEA system of guarantees,” the зresident says. He reiterates that Russia is ready for “close cooperation with all the parties concerned in creating a modern, stable and secure architecture of cooperation in the nuclear sphere. ”

NPT Article VI says: “Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.”

According to the Russian president, a balance of the three key components of the NPT – nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear power – remains the key to its viability in the future. “This approach combined with determination to make the Treaty universal prevailed at the 2010 Conference and made it possible to achieve specific agreements that have retained their importance today,” the president says.

In his speech, Putin recalls that review conference “is taking place ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. This historic landmark serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility for the wellbeing of this planet, of the need to preserve peace and jointly combat modern threats, one of which is the spread of nuclear weapons,” he said. “I expect the Conference to confirm the readiness of all the states that are signatories to the NPT to strictly comply with all their commitments. This will undoubtedly become a factor of stronger peace, security and stability on the planet.”