DILI, 25 april 2022 (TATOLI) – The National Parliament had approved, today, the Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW).
The TPNW was adopted by a United Nations diplomatic conference on july 7, 2017, and opened for signature on september 20, 2017. The treaty entered into force on january 22, 2021, after the 50th ratification was deposited on october 24, 2020.
“The TPNW was ratified at the National Parliament with 45 votes in favor, and zero against and abstentions. Thus, the Proposal of the Parliament resolution 10/V/4a is officially approved,” the President of the National Parliament, Aniceto Guterres Lopes announced during a plenary session, at the House of Parliament, in Dili, today.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) includes a comprehensive set of prohibitions on participating in any nuclear weapon activities.
The President of the Parliament Committee B on Security and Defense and Foreign Affairs, MP Jose Agostinho Sequeira ‘Somotxo’ concluded that the ratification of the TPNW as a significant move to realize Timor-Leste’s campaign to abolish nuclear weapons.
After the ratification of the TPNW, the National Parliament called upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno said that Timor-Leste should ratify the treaty to promote international peace and stability.
“We know the consequence of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and we don’t want the world to experience the same thing,” she said.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings razed and burnt around 70% of all buildings and caused an estimated 140.000 deaths by the end of 1945, along with increased rates of cancer and chronic disease among the survivors.
Apart from TPNW, there is another treaty called the Test Ban Treaty. This treaty was signed in Moscow on august 5, 1963; ratified by the United States Senate on september 24, 1963; and entered into force on october 10, 1963. The treaty prohibited nuclear weapons tests “or any other nuclear explosion” in the atmosphere, in outer space, and underwater.
In addition, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.
Journalist: Nelso de Sousa
Editor: Cancio Ximenes/ Nelia Borges Rosario
Translation: Filomeno Martins
