Nobel laureates for a world without weapons

Nobel Peace Prize laureates today in Warsaw called on world leaders for the "universal, legal and verifiable destruction of nuclear weapons".

In the announcement, issued after the end of the 13th world summit of the Nobel Peace Prize laureates, they also appeal for a peaceful solution to the armed conflict in Syria and other hotspots in the world.

The Nobel laureates pointed out that the main threats to humanity today are "a destabilized climate, polluted oceans, stripped forests, violent conflicts, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and war."

"Nuclear weapons are a threat to the very existence of humanity and must never be used again," they said.

The Nobel laureates gathered this year in Warsaw to mark the 30th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Lech Walesa, the legendary leader of the "Solidarity" movement that led to the fall of the communist regime in Poland.

Walesa, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday, was Poland's president from 1990 to 1995.

Other participants in the rally included Iranian human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and former South African president Frederick de Klerk.

The special guest of the Nobel laureates was Hollywood actress Sharon Stone, who was presented with the Peace Prize for her many years of commitment in the fight against AIDS.