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NATO countries not showing readiness to join nuclear disarmament effort, says diplomat

Vladimir Yermakov stressed that it is necessary to simultaneously enhance security of all involved in the bloc

MOSCOW, October 10. /TASS/. Russia regrets that none of NATO members have shown readiness to join the nuclear disarmament effort, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department Vladimir Yermakov told a meeting of the UN General Assembly’s First Committee on Tuesday.

"Further progress towards nuclear disarmament is impossible if all states which possess military nuclear potential do not join the efforts. First of all, this concerns particular countries of the NATO military bloc. However, to our great regret, none of them have so far signaled this desire," Yermakov said. The text of his speech was posted on the ministry’s website on Wednesday.

For a process of eliminating nuclear weapons, it is vital to simultaneously enhance security of all its participants in the course of reducing nuclear arsenals, the diplomat stressed.

Three NATO member-states possess nuclear weapons: the United States, the United Kingdom and France.