“Russia and the US must set an example on nuclear security”

Nuclear Security Summittaking place in Washington, USA is an event that has attracted the attention of the international community in recent days. This is a conference held every two years, starting from 2010, at the initiative of US President Barack Obama. The issues discussed at this conference are also the topics analyzed in the program.World Panoramaof VTV with the participation of Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Quang Minh - President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Assessing the results achieved from the initiative for a world withoutnuclear weaponsthat US President Obama initiated 7 years ago, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh said: “I think that the initiative to organize a nuclear security summit that President Barack Obama proposed is a great initiative. It is the dream of all mankind when the world is nuclear-free. If we look back over the past period, there are 3 points to evaluate the success of this initiative.

Firstly, the conference has been held three times (2010, 2012, 2014) and at each conference, the leaders of the countries have pledged to reduce the number of nuclear weapons. Secondly, the number of nuclear warheads since 2010 has been significantly reduced - from more than 20,000 to just over 15,000. Thirdly, I think the biggest success is the Iran dossier. In May 2015, the P5+1 reached a very important agreement, according to which international atomic energy agencies were allowed to inspect and monitor Iran's nuclear weapons development process and Iran pledged to eliminate this program, in return for expanding international relations and not being subject to sanctions.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Quang Minh talks in the World Panorama program

The 2016 Nuclear Security Summit focused on the risk of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists and made specific commitments. In response to the question: "In your opinion, how can the commitments and calls at the conference not become empty calls?", Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh analyzed: "It is indeed very difficult to have commitments but not be able to implement them. In my opinion, in order for those commitments not to become slogans, first of all, the nuclear powers must seriously implement their declarations and set an example for small countries, especially the US and Russia.

Second, poor and small countries should not use nuclear weapons as a goal for their development. Development today is peaceful and sustainable development, not using nuclear weapons as a shield to ensure their security and prosperity. They must be very careful in formulating their development policies.

Finally, I think the third point is that countries must solve world security issues by peaceful means, by negotiation. There is no better solution than multilateral and bilateral negotiations to reach a consensus.

Also in the commentary at the World Panorama program, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh made comments on the international community's approach to the process.denuclearization of the Korean peninsulaAccordingly, he believes that the international community needs to be more persistent, more determined and have a stronger commitment to achieve results.

“If we had to summarize the international community’s approach to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, we could use three ‘K’s – not really ‘perseverant’, ‘resolute’ and ‘commitment’ – but there have been many efforts. The resolution issued on March 4 is a new step in the international community’s desire to demonstrate its desire and will to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. This new step is expressed in the very high level of obligation on North Korea, forcing North Korea to choose between existence or non-existence, choosingnuclear programor continue to develop normally. This commitment is a great determination of the international community. However, the international community's approach needs to be more persistent, more determined and have a stronger commitment" - Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Quang Minh analyzed.

To listen to more detailed analysis by Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh about the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, please watch the World Panorama program through the video below:

According to VTV.vn