Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons and prevention of nuclear war

“Removing the threat of a world war—a nuclear war—is the most Acute and Urgent Task of the Present Day.” That solemn warning of the General Assembly, contained in the Final Document of its tenth special session,' held in 1978, has not been ignored, but the threat still hangs over the world, and efforts therefore continue to remove it. The Soviet Union has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment, first officially announced at the twelfth special session of the General Assembly, in 1982, never to be the first to use nuclear weapons (see below). President Reagan of the United States, addressing the General Assembly on 26 September 1983, stated: “A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” He added: “I believe that if Governments are determined to deter and prevent war, there will not be war.”

Related Subject(s): Disarmament