Commemorating President Obama’s Landmark Prague Speech

Two years ago, President Obama delivered a landmark speech in Prague, Czech Republic.  The Prague Agenda, delivered on April 5, 2009 outlined the steps needed to move toward a safer world, one without nuclear weapons.

“So today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.”

In this important speech, the President made specific commitments to achieve the goals of this agenda.

“To reduce our warheads and stockpiles, we will negotiate a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with the Russians this year. President Medvedev and I began this process in London, and will seek a new agreement by the end of this year that is legally binding and sufficiently bold."

“To achieve a global ban on nuclear testing, my administration will immediately and aggressively pursue U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. After more than five decades of talks, it is time for the testing of nuclear weapons to finally be banned.”

Peace and security groups welcomed President Obama’s Prague speech as a signal of progress. Since then, these groups have been working diligently to ensure that the steps of the Prague Agenda can be realized. At WAND we have have used this momentum to move the Prague Agenda forward.

We have had significant victories. On December 23, 2010 The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) was ratified by the U.S. Senate. This treaty limits the U.S. and Russia to no more than 1,550 deployed strategic warheads and 800 deployed and non-deployed delivery vehicles. The treaty also includes a streamlined and updated system of verification provisions to ensure each side that the other is complying with the treaty stipulations. Ratification followed a year of intense negotiations and heated debate on the Senate Floor.

There is still work to do. The battle for the CTBT has only just begun. Congress is currently making sweeping budget cuts that may affect funding for nuclear non proliferation programs. Proposed spending cuts to the National Nuclear Security Administration for the remainder of this budget year would have a significant impact on the agency's nuclear stockpile and nonproliferation operation, jeopardizing the President’s commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons.

On this anniversary of the landmark Prague speech by President Obama, please accept WAND’s thanks for all that you have helped us to accomplish. We will continue to work towards a more safe and secure world, and we thank you for your continued dedication. Your calls, emails, and support for our work make it all possible.

Continue to promote a safer world by joining in our April 5^th campaign for the Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons Free World.

You help us build a better future!

Thank you!

“Human destiny will be what we make of it. And here in Prague, let us honor our past by reaching for a better future. Let us bridge our divisions, build upon our hopes, accept our responsibility to leave this world more prosperous and more peaceful than we found it. Together we can do it.”