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Let me remind you that nuclear disarmament is not just an ardent desire of the people, as expressed in many resolutions of the United Nations. It is a legal commitment by the five official nuclear states, entered into when they signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Do not hide behind utopian logic which says that until we have the perfect security environment, nuclear disarmament cannot proceed. This is old-think. This is the mentality of the Cold War era. We must face the realities of the 21st century. The Conference on Disarmament can be a driving force for building a safer world and a better future.

Even a total and universal disarmament does not guarantee the maintenance of peace.

The Disarmament Conference has become the focal point of a great struggle between anarchy and world order... between those who think in terms of inevitable armed conflict and those who seek to build a universal and durable peace.

The issues and challenges surrounding nuclear non-proliferation are continuously evolving. They've changed dramatically at several junctures in recent memory.

Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent.

Challenging the integrity of the non-proliferation regime is a matter which can affect international peace and security.

It has become impossible to give up the enterprise of disarmament without abandoning the whole great adventure of building up a collective peace system.

We are categorically against proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Proliferation of nuclear weapons to terrorist organisations is far more dangerous than proliferation of nuclear weapons to states, even states like North Korea.