THE DEBATE ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS AT THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE 80th UNGA

“We should all strive towards a world free of the nightmare of nuclear annihilation,” stated Ambassador Leonardo Bencini yesterday during the debate on nuclear weapons in the First Committee of the 80^th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In his statement (video) on behalf of Italy, he mentioned the visit that President Mattarella paid to Hiroshima earlier this year and the meeting he had with the Hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic blasts, and the 2024 Nobel peace prize recipients, Nihon Hidankyo. Ambassador Bencini added that complete nuclear disarmament is possible and can be achieved through a progressive, realistic and responsible approach, based on concrete measures and on an effective, verifiable and irreversible process within the Non-proliferation Treaty.