Friday, 2 November, 2007

Sydney Morning Herald

Australia has resisted backing a United Nations vote aimed at reducing the high alert status of thousands of nuclear weapons around the world.

The resolution - sponsored by New Zealand, Chile, Nigeria, Sweden and Switzerland - was given overwhelming support at the UN General Assembly's disarmament committee, passing by 124 votes to three.

But Australia joined 34 other countries in abstaining from the vote.

The United States, the United Kingdom and France were the only countries who voted against the move.

New Zealand's Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Goff said he hoped to be able to persuade Australia to eventually back the measure, which he first floated about three months ago.

"Every country has to make its own decision ... I believe we can go forward and gain ... even bigger support," Goff said.

A significant number of the worlds 27,000 remaining nuclear weapons are on high alert, which means they could be launched within minutes.

The New Zealand resolution asks those countries with nuclear weapons to recognise the risks posed and catastrophic consequences of a nuclear war, Goff said.

He said the move was designed to pressure nuclear powers to take their weapons off high alert, meaning it would take days for them to launch a military strike.

It would also reduce the chances of a nuclear strike sparked by accident or technical malfunction, he said.

"I am an eternal optimist. I believe that over time people will see the need to eliminate nuclear weapons," he said.

New Zealand has been a strong advocate of international arms controls and has its nuclear free policy enshrined in law.

The law bans all nuclear armed or powered ships from entering the country's waters.

The vote now goes to the 192-nation General Assembly for a final vote.

Assembly resolutions are not binding.