“The Pacific region has suffered the human and environmental consequences of more than 300 nuclear tests conducted since the end of the Second World War. These tests were conducted by powerful governments many thousands of kilometres away. They considered our corner of the globe to be a “safe” place to test nuclear weapons.”
This was the message of Fijian Prime Minister Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama while addressing leaders at the High Level Plenary on Promotion for the International Day for Total elimination of Nuclear Weapons held at the ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations Headquarters.
Prime Minister Bainimarama said Fiji has not only spoken against nuclear weapons, but has fully supported measures to ban them.
“We are a signatory to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, which bans the use, testing and possession of nuclear weapons in the Pacific. Fiji is also party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and was one of its early signatories.”
“Fiji has also signed and ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which is not yet in force. And in 2017, Fiji was one of the early signatories of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”
He has urged all nations to take responsibility to guarantee a safe environment and a secure future for our children, and we will do so as a cornerstone of our international engagement.
“We will do so in matters of nuclear non-proliferation as well as in the fight against climate change or the efforts to keep the peace and stop the spread of intolerance, terrorism and warfare.”