As a strong advocate of regional stability, Maldives is fully committed towards global peace and security, says Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid.

FM Shahid made this remark during his pre-recorded address to the high-level event of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, in commemoration of the international day of ‘Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons’.

Highlighting that Maldives was one of the original signatories to the treaty on ‘Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons’, FM Shahid stated that the island nation has a traditional positive as a nation without nuclear aspirations.

Shedding light on efforts undertaken by the government in light of this, FM Shahid pointed out the agreement to international instruments such as the ‘Arms Trade Treaty’ and the ‘Cluster Munitions Convention’ as well as the ‘Nuclear Prohibition Treaty’.

During his video statement, the minister stressed on the importance placed by the United Nations on the eliminate of nuclear arsenals and weapons as it forms the bass of the UN’s founding agreements.

Expressing concern regarding the presence of nuclear weapons across the globe, the Maldives foreign minister urged states that have not ratified the treaty on the ‘Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons’, to join the cause as a “matter of urgency”.

FM Shahid went on to touch down on the benefits of nuclear disarmament as a significant pillar of the ‘Goal Sixteen of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ implementation. It is also a crucial factor for international peace and stability, said the minister.

Celebrated on September 26 annually, the international day for the ‘Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons’ aims to raise awareness on the threats posed by nuclear and weapons of mass destruction, to humanity. It also revolves around the necessity for their elimination in total, to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

The event hosted high-level representatives from over 100 UN member states.