UN calls on Russia, US to get back to disarmament dialogue

The Deputy Secretary-General, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations Izumi Nakamitsu has said that the United States and Russia should get back to the disarmament dialogue as soon as possible.

Nakamitsu made the relevant statement while speaking at an Arms Control Association event on June 2, according to RIA Novosti.

"Arms control and disarmament efforts are tools for our security," she said, adding that none of these tasks can be achieved without dialogue and interaction.

“While the current situation complicated this, the US and Russia need to get back to dialogue at the earliest opportunity,” Nakamitsu said.

She noted that even in the hottest moments of the Cold War, states were able to engage in dialogue.

“Start-3 [treaty] will expire in four years. The time to negotiate the next agreement is running out. And, of course, this cannot happen without dialogue and interaction,” the under-secretary-general said.

Nakamitsu noted that after major crises, a window of opportunity for arms control talks usually appears. She called on to get ready for "immediately beginning substantive negotiations" when it appears.