NYET! Russian Uranium Deal Fails Nuclear Test

MEDIA RELEASE

Today's recommendation by a key Parliamentary Committee that Australia postpone and put conditions on plans to sell uranium to Russia has been welcomed by disarmament groups as a dose of good sense for Australia, Russia and the world.

"This recommendation puts front and centre the obligation of nuclear states to disarm" said Associate Professor Tilman Ruff, chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. "The Committee has recognised the risks in continuing business as usual in the nuclear industry".

"Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons and Australia has the largest stockpile of uranium, the fuel stock for nuclear weapons. We have a special responsibility to reduce nuclear dangers rather than fuel increased insecurity.

"Uranium sales are a key place where the rubber hits the road with Australia 's commitment to stamp out nuclear weapons. The International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament initiated by Mr Rudd will have its credibility undermined from the start if we continue to expand inadequately safeguarded uranium sales to nuclear armed states.

Chernobyl, Ukraine (photo: Trey Ratcliff, Creative Commons license)

"We welcome the common sense approach the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has taken today in calling for a halt to the Russian deal. We now look to the Government to turn this sensible recommendation into policy.

"All recipients of Australia 's uranium should now be on notice. Nuclear weapons states need to get serious about disarmament. The best way to do this is to start negotiating a Nuclear Weapons Convention - a treaty to eradicate these worst weapons of mass destruction once and for all."

For comment: contact ICAN.

Tel: + 61 (0) 3 9347 4795

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Email: info @icanw.org

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International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

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