NATO chief says UN convention won’t rid world of nuclear arms

14 January 2018, 9:24 pm

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STOCKHOLM — NATO’s secretary general says the military alliance supports the idea of a world without nuclear weapons, but does not believe it can be achieved by imposing a ban through the United Nations convention on nuclear weapons.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says during a speech at a security conference in Sweden on Sunday that ridding the world of nuclear weapons requires a period of “painful disarmament” that the UN convention cannot guarantee.

Stoltenberg’s message is clearly directed to the Swedish government, which is divided on whether to sign the convention.

The NATO chief told Swedish media earlier that Sweden, which is not a NATO member, could find its cooperative relationship with the alliance weakened if it does.

— AP