On February 15, 2021, the commemorative event was held to mark the 54th anniversary of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, also known as the Treaty of Tlatelolco, which more than five decades ago established Latin America and the Caribbean as the first region completely free of nuclear weapons.
The Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL) organized a virtual event commemorative on the occasion of the 54th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, recognized as a triumph of Latin American diplomacy worldwide in matters of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and which turned our region into the pioneering Nuclear Weapons Free Zone.
The celebration on February 15 featured the participation of important personalities in the area of disarmament who came together to commemorate the Anniversary of the Treaty of Tlatelolco.
The event, open to the general public, was directed by the Ambassador Carlos Alfonso Tomada, Ambassador of the Republic of Argentina to Mexico.
The following stands out in the interventions carried out:
-
Ambassador Flavio Roberto Bonzanini, Secretary General of OPANAL, who he emphasized in which the Treaty of Tlatelolco has been a true watershed in disarmament matters, not only at the time of its creation, but also having been a key reference in the subsequent negotiations of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPAN), which have continued to advance faithfully on the path towards nuclear disarmament.
- Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Humanitarian Affairs
United Nations DisarmamentWho recognized the great work carried out by OPANAL in promoting actions that promote both international security and the maintenance of peace, and reiterated the support of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs to OPANAL and the other Nuclear Weapon Free Zones. Likewise, he shared the great news that “The Office for Disarmament Affairs recently launched a consolidated web platform for the coordination and exchange of best practices in areas of mutual interest”, remembering that Nuclear Weapon Free Zones are emblematic instruments that are an example of the synergy of regional and global efforts in pursuit of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.
- The Executive Secretary of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), Mr.
Messaoud Baaliouamer, reiterated recognition of the work carried out by countries committed to denuclearization, particularly the Nuclear Weapons Free Zones and Mongolia. He highlighted their relevance for the African continent, as well as the full support for using nuclear energy only for scientific and technological objectives that have a peaceful intention. He also emphasized the constant cooperation between AFCONE AND OPANAL, and the close and regular contact of both Organizations to continue developing and improving a cooperation program towards the implementation of global peace and security objectives together. Mr. Baaliouamer also reported that AFCONE was preparing its 5th Conference of States Parties, to be held in 2021, and to which it will extend an invitation to the Latin American and Caribbean Nuclear Weapons Free Zone.
Ambassador Rafael M. Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stressed the support of the IAEA to the international community to continue with the work of disarmament, as well as to develop and apply national legal frameworks for the promotion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, which take into account international guidelines as well. Ambassador Grossi also reaffirmed the solid and close relationship between the IAEA and OPANAL in matters of cooperation regarding the establishment and compliance of safeguards, reiterating the specific role conferred on the IAEA in the Treaty of Tlatelolco, of being the competent authority and responsible for verifying thatall contracting parties are complying with the safeguards agreements concluded with the IAEA in compliance with their non-proliferation obligations.”
- Ms. Elena Maceiras Secretary of the Brazilian-Argentine Accounting and Accounting Agency
Materials Control (ABACC), En of intervention expressed his recognition for the work of OPANAL in making possible the successful application of the Treaty of Tlatelolco and recalled the role it played in the consolidation of the ABACC by contributing to improving the implementation of efficient controls for the verification of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and establishing together a framework of regular consultations, harmonization of activities and the exchange of scientific and technical support work. He pointed out that “fostering trust and cooperation between countries is working in favor of regional and international security”.
- Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen, designated President of the Tenth Conference of
Review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he remembered that the NPT is the cornerstone of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, being based on its 3 fundamental pillars: disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. He pointed out the importance that the Treaty of Tlatelolco had in solidifying and strengthening the NPT. During his speech, Amb. Zlauvinen also stressed that Latin America and the Caribbean, having been the first Nuclear Weapons Free Zone, has served as an inspiration in disarmament issues worldwide and highlighted the great relevance of these zones to advance the objective of achieving general disarmament. and complete under effective international control and guaranteeing, at the same time, that the use of nuclear weapons will not be used or threatened by States that do not possess such weapons.
- Dr. Eduardo Jarmillo Navarrete, Director General for the United Nations
United Nations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, he highlighted the great relevance of the issue of disarmament, especially in the context of the current pandemic, when observing the large amount of resources that are spent on nuclear weapons issues that could be used to counter the health crisis worldwide. He also stressed that even though the Treaty of Tlatelolco was a great step at the international level in terms of disarmament, there is still much to do. Fortunately, great steps continue to be taken in this area, as demonstrated by the entry into force, on January 22, of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPAN). Finally, it reaffirmed the historical responsibility that the region of Latin America and The Caribbean must continue to play a key role in the path of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation.
All the personalities presented at the event highlighted the great contribution of the Treaty of Tlatelolco to international security, and reiterated the support of their respective organizations for the disarmament work of OPANAL. They also emphasized the work that remains to be done and urged the international community to continue dialogue and create constructive strategies to achieve the common goal of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons for future generations.
In the same framework of the commemoration of the 54 years of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, the Member States of OPANAL issued a Communication Set which was presented in summary by the President of the Council who highlighted the following:
- The great work carried out by each of the Parties to safeguard what is established in the Treaty and ensure nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation is recalled.
- Said statement also emphasizes the relevance of the existence and maintenance of Nuclear Weapons Free Zones since these "They promote regional and international peace and stability by prohibiting the possession, acquisition, development, testing, manufacturing, production, storage, emplacement and use of nuclear weapons.
- The creation of new Nuclear Weapon Free Zones through negotiation and arrangements freely agreed upon by key States in certain regions worldwide, emphasizing the importance of these zones so that it is gradually possible to consolidate total nuclear disarmament.
- “the obligation arising from article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which commits each party to 'conduct negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to the cessation de the nuclear arms race in the near future and on nuclear disarmament and on a general disarmament treaty under strict and effective international control'”.
- That nuclear weapons should not be used again by any actor under any circumstances, an action that can only be consolidated “through prohibition and the subsequent transparent, verifiable and irreversible elimination of all nuclear weapons.”
- That the recent entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons "“It joins the path towards the elimination of those weapons of mass destruction that have been marked by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.”