French President Sarkozy leads EU nuclear disarmament initiative

On December 5, French President Sarkozy, acting on behalf of the European Union (EU), sent a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (click here for the unofficial English translation) outlining proposals for nuclear disarmament. The letter indicated EU support for the universal ratification of the Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the commencement of negotiations on a fissile materials treaty, greater measures for transparency by the nuclear weapon States, further reductions in nuclear stockpiles, reduction and elimination of tactical nuclear weapons, and the opening of consultation to ban ground-to-ground missiles of short and intermediate range.

The letter did not comment on the UN Secretary-General’s five point plan for nuclear disarmament announced on October 24, nor the SG’s call for a comprehensive approach to eliminate nuclear weapons through a nuclear weapons convention or a package of agreements. However, some of the other proposals in the SG’s plan were reflected in President Sarkozy’s letter.