Obama Sends Central Asian Non-Proliferation Protocol to Senate

US President Barack Obama sent to the Senate a treaty for ratification that would prohibit the use of nuclear weapons in Central Asia, US National Security Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan said in a statement.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Protocol was sent to the US Senate as the United Nations convened for the first day of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference on Monday, which runs April 27-May 22.

“Today, the President submitted the Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia to the US Senate for its advice and consent to ratification,” Meehan said on Monday.

“This protocol, upon entry into force, would obligate the United States not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon States within the regional zone who are Party to the Central Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (CANWFZ) Treaty and in compliance with their nuclear nonproliferation obligations,” Meehan added.

The NPT was signed in 1968 to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology while promoting the safe use of civilian nuclear technology. The treaty entered into force in 1970 and was joined by 191 states.