Since the Russian invasion in Ukraine and the threatening remarks of Vladimir Putin in particular, the subject of nuclear power has been put back at the center of the discussions. Signed by 191 States, including Belgium, this treaty tends to reduce the risk of nuclear weapons being deployed throughout the world.
Questioned by our colleagues from Sudinfo, Hadja Lahbib explains the Belgian ambition to reduce this nuclear risk. “Belgium is very active in this fight. A world without nuclear weapons is only possible in a world without nuclear tests. Belgium supports the Stockholm initiative which has laid down milestones to reduce the risk of nuclear war.“
For the Minister of Foreign Affairs, this meeting in New York is essential. “We must ring the alarm bell. We must absolutely avoid any risk, any accident and we must therefore avoid new tests. North Korea is multiplying them. This is why we are expressing the desire to strengthen controls ( …). I note that everyone wants to move forward, everyone has the will to denuclearize and to concentrate only on civilian nuclear applications. It is an ideal, but it is essential to maintain the dialogue”, she told SudInfo.
“In Belgium, some are visibly bored and have fun with these little games”
Some time following taking office, Hadja Lahbib was the target of controversy. In question, a trip to Crimea dating from 2021, where the journalist went for a report.
Surprised by the attacks of certain politicians, the minister does not wish to enter into divisions between politicians. “I find that these are little games that some people play in Belgium, it’s reckless and irresponsible in an international context of war.”she says before admitting that she did not expect for a single moment that we would talk regarding this trip. “I never imagined for a moment that it might jump in my face. (…) But in Belgium, some people are visibly bored and have fun with these little games. It’s irresponsible, I repeat and I appeal to their sense of the state.”
“If I had known at the time that I would be a minister in the following year, perhaps I would have acted differently”she also slipped to the Belga agency.
Hadja Lahbib confirms her intention to visit Ukraine
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also confirmed on Tuesday her intention to visit Ukraine when conditions allow. “We are going to prepare this trip but it cannot be improvised. The timing has to be good”, she said, questioned by Belga. The Minister confirmed that since the information disseminated (note: last week regarding this trip to Crimea as a journalist) exchanges have taken place at the highest level between Belgium and Ukraine. “We reiterated our mutual trust”she said regarding it.