Statement by the Secretary-General on the Entry into Force of the New START Treaty

I applaud President Medvedev and President Obama for their visionary leadership and dedicated efforts in advancing nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Today's welcome development adds significant impetus to the hard-won momentum achieved in recent years. Coming at an opportune moment, I believe that entry into force of the new START Treaty will inspire further action towards creating a safer and more secure world for all. It will also help create favourable conditions for important events in the coming years, including the 2012 Conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction as well as the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit.

I encourage the Russian Federation and the United States to continue their efforts to identify and carry forward the next steps, together with other nuclear-weapon States, in this historic endeavour of pursuing a nuclear-weapon-free world. I reaffirm my full commitment towards achieving this important goal.