United Nations, September 21 (RHC-Granma)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, during the High-Level Signature Ceremony held on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York.

The island and another 40 countries signed the treaty adopted July 7, which prohibits nuclear-weapon-related activities including developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, acquiring, possessing or stockpiling such nuclear weapons or explosive devices, as well as the use, or threat of use, of these weapons, which pose a serious threat to humanity.

The agreement also obliges signatories to assist victims and remedy environmental damage caused by the use or testing of nuclear weapons, while those countries which continue to possess nuclear arms are free to join the treaty once they have complied with the requirements as stipulated in the agreement.

In a press release issued at the UN headquarters, Cuba described the signing of the treaty as an important step toward nuclear disarmament, which will significantly contribute to reaching the goal of a nuclear-weapons-free world.

Cuba also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting humanity and working toward the complete abolition of nuclear weapons, 15,000 of such exist in the world today, with 1,800 equipped for use.

The text went on to note that, with this Treaty, the international community has clearly established that nuclear arms are not only inhumane, immoral and ethically indefensible, but also illegal.

Prior to the signature ceremony, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, described the treaty as historic, and acknowledged the countries and civil society organizations that promoted and supported it.

The initiative, the first multilateral legally-binding instrument for nuclear disarmament to have been negotiated in 20 years, will enter into force 90 days after it has been ratified by at least 50 countries.