Fiji as a signatory to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty has expressed hope that other nations adopt similar international policies.

Speaking at the General Debate of the Disarmament and International Security Committee this week, Fiji's First Secretary Sainivalati Navoti lamented the fact that large stocks of nuclear weapons continued to exist. He said some countries were still keen to develop even more sophisticated and greater arsenals of such weapons.

The First Secretary highlighted to the General Assembly the cataclysmic danger small arms had the potential to wreak on most nations globally.

"Fiji is gravely concerned about the accumulated and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons in many regions of the world including the Pacific."Mr Navoti said.

He said much remained to be achieved in the disarmament and non-proliferation machinery.

"Fiji and other countries in our region enjoy a cordial and satisfactory relation with our dialogue partners in as far as the implementation and observance of the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty is concerned,"said Mr Navoti.

"Fiji supports all efforts to safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime."

Mr Navoti said Fiji encouraged dialogue and believed that opportunities for diplomatic avenues within the framework of international law, relevant multilateral conventions and the UN Charter ought to be exhaustively taken advantage of.

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