A/RES/55/33 Noting that, despite achievements in bilateral and unilateral arms reductions, the total number of nuclear weapons deployed and stockpiled still amount to many thousands, Welcoming the significant progress achieved in nuclear weapon reductions made unilaterally or bilaterally under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) process, as a step towards nuclear disarmament, Welcoming also the ratification of the Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START II) 5 by the Russian Federation as an important step in the efforts to reduce strategic offensive weapons, and noting that completion of ratification of START II by the United States of America remains a priority, Concerned that negotiations on nuclear arms reductions are not actively under way, Welcoming the significant unilateral reduction measures taken by other nuclear-weapon States, including the closing down and dismantling of nuclearweapon-related facilities, Welcoming also the efforts of several States to cooperate in making nuclear disarmament measures irreversible, in particular through the adoption of initiatives on the verification, management and disposition of fissile material declared excess to military purposes, Noting the declaration by the nuclear-weapon States that none of their nuclear weapons are targeted at any State, Underlining the necessity of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Noting the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 6 in which the heads of State and Government resolved to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Welcoming the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,7 Taking into consideration the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty,8 Underlining the need for action to achieve a world free from nuclear weapons, Determined to pursue practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and 5 The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 18: 1993 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.IX.1), appendix II. 6 Resolution 55/2. 7 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). 8 Ibid., vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, art. VI, para. 15:6. 4