AUSTRIA, January 19 - An alarming standstill for the “Doomsday Clock” – a wake-up call for disarmament before the anniversary of the nuclear weapon ban treaty

The ‘Doomsday Clock’ is still showing 100 seconds to midnight – the community of states has not yet succeeded in reducing the extremely high risk of nuclear conflict. This is a wake-up call: We must finally put an end to the nuclear arms race,

said Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg during today’s presentation of the latest clock time. The Doomsday Clock created by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a group that dates back to the days of Albert Einstein, is intended to showcase the huge risk of a global disaster, particularly a nuclear conflict. Due to current geopolitical tensions, experts experts estimate this risk to be higher than at any time during the Cold War.

The number of states armed with nuclear weapons has increased since the end of the Cold War. Billions are being invested in developing new, “easy-to-use” atomic bombs, and arsenals are being expanded. At the same time, the willingness to be transparent about the possession and possible use of these weapons is declining.

This violates the duties of the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and it represents a severe threat to global peace and security.

Given their risks and the humanitarian impact, nuclear weapons pose a global threat of almost unparalleled magnitude. It is unacceptable that a few states can threaten to destroy the world as we know it for the sake of their own national security,

said Foreign Minister Schallenberg.

It is a misconception that nuclear deterrence will guarantee long-term security and stability; this is an extremely dangerous, if not irresponsible, gamble with the security of all humanity.

Given this background, Austria is strongly committed to fulfilling the historic Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which will celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday, 22^nd January. After chemical and biological weapons, the treaty bans the last, most destructive category of weapons of mass destruction – the atomic bomb. 86 countries have already signed the TPNW, and 59 countries have ratified it.

The treaty is a milestone for disarmament and security. It lays the groundwork for implementing the nuclear states’ long-overdue disarmament promises,

said Foreign Minister Schallenberg.

The next step is convincing those states that still believe they need nuclear weapons to sign the treaty. It is a particular honour for Austria, he said, that the first meeting of the treaty’s signatories is taking place in Vienna this year.

We cannot shut our eyes to the imminent threat of nuclear deployment or an accident involving nuclear weapons. We must destroy them before they destroy us,

added Foreign Minister Schallenberg.