MOSCOW, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017. PIR PRESS — «It is absolutely necessary to reduce nuclear arms, because it will never be used. And it is not important how much, the crucial thing is to continue reducing on 500, 300, or 200, to keep the process going. I would also like to see our leaders saying that we need to move towards total ban, and all efforts along this way are welcomed — even without mentioning the Nuclear Ban Treaty — any activity in the spirit of the sixth article of the NPT is useful”, — Roland Timerbaev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, member of PIR Center Advisory Board.
On September 27, 2017 Roland Timerbaev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, member of PIR Center Advisory Board is celebrating 90th anniversary.
Ambassador Timerbaev is one of the most influential specialists in the world in the sphere of nuclear nonproliferation. He is a diplomat who fifty years ago with colleagues prepared thetext of the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the cornerstone of the global security system. Among many of the achievements of Roland Timerbaev’s diplomatic work are participation in the development of the decisions on ABM, active participation in the preparation of the Agreement on the Prevention on Nuclear War between the USSR and the USA, Treaty on the Limitation of Underground Nuclear Weapon Tests, development of the IAEA safeguards systems and creation of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group.
Recently Mr. Timerbaev gave interview to the new issue of Yaderniy Kontrol, in which he spoke about NPT preparation, its indefinite extension and shared his view on the issue nuclear arms ban. Roland Timerbaev underlined that “nuclear weapon – it is an incorrect term, it is not a weapon, it is a way of destroying humanity. Weapon – is a way of waging a war and achieveng the victory. If weapons are not enough, then you lose. But nuclear war can lead only to the destruction of the humankind as we know it… It is absolutely necessary to reduce [nuclear stockpiles], because they will never be used. And it is not important how much, the crucial thing is to continue reducing on 500, 300, or 200, to keep the process going. I would also like to see our leaders saying that we need to move towards total ban, and all efforts along this way are welcomed — even without mentioning the Nuclear ban treaty — any activity in the spirit of the sixth article of the NPT is useful”.
Roland Timerbaev’s colleagues shared their impressions of working along his side. One of them Sergio Duarte, President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs remembers: “Since the times when we were colleagues in Geneva I always had very good relations with some of the members of the Soviet delegation and Roland was among those with whom I regularly talked. I always admired his straightforward and friendly disposition as well as his friendly approach. He has made and continues to make a great contribution to the cause of disarmament and multilateral negotiations”.
Colonel-General Evgeny Maslin, member of the PIR Center Executive Board: “Unlike many other people Roland Tierbaev has a deep knowledge of what he is talking about. Not only deep, but also wide. And when people possess such deep knowledge they quite naturally formulate their thoughts very good, precise and to the point”.
Roland Timerbaev is one of the initiators of the idea to develop centers for nonproliferation studies and education in Russia and CIS.
With a video greeting friends, colleagues, and students of Roland Timerbaev – participants of his “nonproliferation draft”, as well as students who will come into profession tomorrow addressed the man of the hour: Vladimir Orlov, Albert Zulkharneev, Andrey Baklitsky (PIR Center, Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Russia), Ildar Akhtamzyan (MGIMO), William Potter (CNS, Monterey), Matthew Bunn (Harvard), Anastasia Malygina, Andrey Pavlov and students of Saint Petersburg University, Ekaterina Mikhaylenko, Ekaterina Lapanovich, Dmitry Pobedash and students of the Ural University, Larisa Deriglazova, Savely Wolfson, and Ilona Gubareva from Tomsk State University, Polina Sinovets – Odessa Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Nikita Perfilyev – CTBTO, Adlan Margoev, Darya Selezneva, Noa Mahew – students of the first international Master program in the field of nonproliferation created by MGIMO, PIR Center and MIIS.
PIR Center joins them in congratulating Roland Timerbaev, and whishes him good health, high spirits, and good mood.
On October 16, at 16.00 Roland Timerbaev will meet with students of the Double Degree Master Program, young teachers and scholars from Moscow on the topic “Essence and Spirit of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and Current Challenges to Nonproliferation Regime”. Meeting will take place in MGIMO. In order to participate, please contact PIR Center Project Coordinator Maxim Miroshnikov via e-mail: miroshnikov@pircenter.org
