A resolution calling for a nuclear weapon-free world was overwhelmingly adopted yesterday by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The resolution was tabled by Ireland in November.
"We cannot enter the third millennium with the prospect that nuclear weapons will be considered legitimate for the indefinite future," the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, told the assembly.
Yesterday's resolution calls on those states possessing nuclear weapons - France, Britain, the United States, Russia and China - to demonstrate "an unequivocal commitment to the speedy and total elimination of their respective nuclear weapons".
They were also asked to conclude negotiations leading to the elimination of their nuclear arsenals.
The Irish resolution, which had the backing of six other states, was being prepared when India and Pakistan began a series of nuclear tests in May.
Yesterday's resolution specifically calls on states which have shown themselves capable of developing and testing nuclear weapons to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and to renounce the nuclear option.
In a statement last night, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was an Irish initiative at the UN in the late 1950s which produced the NPT. The Department added that the adoption of yesterday's resolution reinforces the NPT, "which has become the cornerstone of nuclear proliferation efforts in the world and remains the foundation for nuclear disarmament efforts".
Yesterday's resolution set out a series of measures to be taken by the five nuclear states and by others which have remained outside the NPT.
The United States lobbied strongly against the earlier resolution in October but could not obtain the support of non-nuclear NATO allies including Canada, Germany, Spain and Italy, which abstained on the issue. The US, Britain, Russia and France voted against the resolution. The fifth nuclear power - China - abstained.
The Irish resolution arose after soundings taken among UN members by the Irish and Swedish governments. It was backed by the Foreign Ministers of Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, New Zealand, Slovenia and South Africa.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that Ireland's success in winning such widespread support for the resolution had been warmly welcomed by a large number of international non-governmental agencies.