[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S1617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was 
referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-90. A message from the Secretary-General of the United 
     Nations petitioning support for Nuclear Disarmament and Non-
     Proliferation; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                                        The Secretary-General,

                                                February 26, 2010.
     Mr. Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
     President, Senate, United States of America, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., We stand at a watershed 
     moment for the achievement of international security through 
     a world free of nuclear weapons. For several years now, 
     momentum has been building towards this goal, due in no small 
     part to the diligent efforts of civil society and 
     parliamentarians.
       I have tried to do my part to revitalize the peace and 
     disarmament agenda. In October 2008, I presented a five-point 
     proposal for nuclear disarmament. Greatly encouraged by the 
     support that has been expressed for my initiative, I 
     welcomed, in particular, the call by the Inter-Parliamentary 
     Union in April 2009 for parliaments to instruct their 
     Governments to support this proposal. I salute the 
     Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and 
     Disarmament for its related efforts and for its work towards 
     building support for a nuclear weapon convention.
       Since 2008, we have seen progress. The Russian Federation 
     and the United States have negotiated on further reductions 
     of their strategic nuclear arsenals. The Security Council 
     held a historic summit on nuclear disarmament and non-
     proliferation. Treaties establishing nuclear-weapon-free 
     zones have entered into force in Africa and Central Asia. 
     Calls for global nuclear disarmament have emanated from many 
     quarters and detailed plans have been proposed containing 
     practical ideas to achieve the goal of global zero.
       In order to sustain this momentum ahead of the 2010 Review 
     Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear 
     Weapons, I have proposed an Action Plan on Nuclear 
     Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. My plan is founded on a 
     fundamental principle: nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-
     proliferation are mutually reinforcing and inseparable. In my 
     action plan, I promised to explore ways to encourage greater 
     involvement by civil society and parliamentarians.
       Parliamentarians and parliaments play a key role in the 
     success of disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. 
     Parliaments support the implementation of treaties and global 
     agreements contributing to the rule of law and promoting 
     adherence to commitments. They adopt legislation that 
     increases transparency and accountability, thus building 
     trust, facilitating verification and creating conditions that 
     are conducive to the further pursuit of disarmament.
       At a time when the international community is facing 
     unprecedented global challenges, parliamentarians can take on 
     leading roles in ensuring sustainable global security, while 
     reducing the diversion of precious resources from human 
     needs. As parliaments set the fiscal priorities for their 
     respective countries, they can determine how much to invest 
     in the pursuit of peace and cooperative security. Towards 
     this end, parliaments can establish the institutional 
     infrastructures to support the development of necessary 
     practical measures.
       I would therefore like to take this opportunity to 
     encourage all parliamentarians to join in efforts to achieve 
     a nuclear-weapon-free world. In particular, I call upon 
     parliamentarians to increase their support for peace and 
     disarmament, to bring disarmament and non-proliferation 
     treaties into force, and to start work now on the legislative 
     agendas needed to achieve and sustain the objective of 
     nuclear disarmament.
       I look forward to opportunities to work with you to advance 
     global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
           Yours sincerely,
     BAN Ki-Moon.

                          ____________________