PNND
Update 11
January
2005
PNND
Update is a regular e-news service featuring
information on nuclear weapons policies and
practices and how parliamentarians globally
are engaging in these issues.
This
month we feature the Tsunami and a nuclear catastrophe,
parliamentarians and United Nations actions
on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament,
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and more:
Table
of Contents:
•
The
Tsunami and a Nuclear Catastrophe
•
NATO
parliamentarians active on UN General Assembly
resolution
•
UN
Security Council Resolution 1540 and parliaments
•
Parliamentarians
invited to join international statement to reduce
the risk of nuclear weapons
•
Parliamentarians
and the Non-Proliferation Treaty
•
New
Zealand Prime Minister calls on parliamentarians
globally to work for a nuclear weapons free
world
•
US
Congress cuts funds for nuclear weapons research
and development
•
US
Congress permits US-UK nuclear collaboration
•
UN
High Level Panel addresses weapons of mass destruction
•
Commission
on Weapons of Mass Destruction
•
Canada
establishes a National Section of PNND
•
PNND
Canada discusses Ballistic Missile Defense
•
PNND
Membership Update
The
Tsunami and a Nuclear Catastrophe
The
Tsunami which wrecked havoc on South Asian countries
on 26 December2004 was unprecedented in the
degree of destruction it caused. Staff and members
of the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament
have joined with others around the world in
offering condolences and support for those affected.
While the impact of such natural disasters could
be minimized, humanity is powerless to prevent
their occurrence. Humanity does however have
the power to prevent similar or greater destruction
from nuclear weapons being used whether by accident,
miscalculation or design.
PNND
members are invited to comment on how we can
generate greater awareness about the devastating
effects of any use of nuclear weapons and thus
mobilize greater action to prevent such use
and abolish the weapons. We will post such comments
on the website.
See
also:
The
Tsunami, God and a Nuclear Catastrophe
by Senator Douglas
Roche Tsunamis
and a Nuclear Threat in the South of India
by J. Sri Raman
US
Plans Tidal Wave of Nuclear Proliferation
by Ira Chernus
Back
to Top
Parliamentarians
from NATO countries active on United Nations
nuclear disarmament resolution
A
landmark resolution ( A/RES/59/75
) calling for implementation by
the nuclear weapon States of their Non-Proliferation
Treaty disarmament commitments was introduced
into the United Nations General Assembly in
October by the New Agenda Coalition (Brazil,
Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa
and Sweden). This prompted a flurry of actions
by parliamentarians in NATO countries encouraging
their governments to support the initiative.
In
the past NATO States, with the exception of
Canada , have generally abstained on or opposed
United Nations resolutions introduced by the
New Agenda Coalition. However, rising concern
about the fragility of the NPT and the possibility
of further nuclear proliferation, have led to
increased attention to the forthcoming NPT Review
in May 2005 and on any initiatives which could
help to maintain or strengthen the NPT. This
resulted in a strong show of support for the
NAC resolution, including votes in favour from
eight NATO countries ( Belgium , Canada , Germany
, Lithuania , Luxembourg , Netherlands , Norway
and Turkey ).
Samples
of parliamentary actions: In the Netherlands,
Farah Karimi MP (Greens) Bert Koenders MP (Labour)
and Harry van Bommel (Socialist) lodged parliamentary
questions on October 12 to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs on the Netherlands position on the NAC
draft resolution. ( English
translation of parliamentary questions ).
In Norway
, articles written by Thorbjørn
Jagland, Chairman of the Standing Committee
on Foreign Affairs, supporting the NAC draft
resolution were published in Aftenposten
on 6 October ( The
Government Must Show More Initiative in Foreign
Policy ) and Dagsavisen on 8 October
( The
Nuclear Arms Race Must be Stopped ).
In
Spain Sr Carles Campuzano i Canadés MP
(GC-CiU) submitted parliamentary questions on
the NAC resolution which were answered on November
4 by the
Secretary of State of Legal Affairs (See Pregunta
Escrita Congreso (Espanol), Congress
written question (English translation)).
Back
to Top
Parliaments
and implementation of UN Security Council Resolution
1540 on non-proliferation
On
April 28, the United Nations Security Council
adopted Resolution
1540 which requires all States to a) take
measures to prohibit non-State actors manufacturing,
acquiring or using nuclear, chemical or biological
weapons and their means of delivery, and b)
establish domestic controls to prevent proliferation
of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and
their means of delivery including materials
accounting, physical protection, border controls,
transit and trans-shipment controls and criminal
and civil penalties.
In
addition, the resolution encourages States to
take other measures including: a) universal
adoption and implementation of non-proliferation
treaties, b) adoption of national rules to ensure
full compliance with disarmament and non-proliferation
obligations, c) education of industry and public
regarding such obligations, and d) cooperation
with other States to achieve non-proliferation.
Parliaments
and parliamentarians will need to be engaged
in some of these implementation measures, including
the adoption of appropriate legislation and
allocating funds for national implementation
actions.
Parliamentarians
also have a role in shaping governments' implementation
efforts. Some parliamentarians, for example,
have called on their governments to focus not
only on addressing horizontal proliferation,
but also to act against current possession,
deployment and vertical proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction. Some parliamentarians also
have also called for their governments to focus
not only on proliferation-risk actions by non-State
actors, but also to address such activities
by State actors.
The
New Zealand Section of PNND met with Foreign
Ministry officials in September to discuss national
implementation of UNSC 1540. New
Zealand's report to the UN Security Council
1540 Committee reflected the parliamentarians'
concerns stating that "all weapons of mass destruction
should be eliminated" and that New Zealand had
adopted legislation
making it "an offence to aid, abet or procure
any person to manufacture, acquire, possess,
or have control over any nuclear explosive device."
New Zealand noted in its report that similar
provisions apply also to chemical and biological
weapons, and that the prohibitions apply to
both State and non-State actors under New Zealand
's jurisdiction.
Parliamentarians
could take the following actions:
•
Request copies
of their government's report to the Security
Council Committee 1540
•
Call for
parliamentary debate on implementation plans
for Security Council Resolution 1540
•
Encourage
their government to take action on both nuclear
non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament obligations
referred to in Security Council Resolution 1540
•
Consider
legislation for criminalizing actions by both
State and non-State actors relating to the acquisition,
possession, use or threat of use of nuclear,
chemical and biological weapons.
Documents
and links
•
UN Resolution
1540: English
French
, Chinese
, Spanish
, Russian
, Arabic
•
Guidelines
for the preparation of national reports pursuant
to resolution 1540 (2004) (English)
•
UN Security
Council 1540 Committee homepage: English
•
New
Zealand Country Report to UN Security Council
1540 Committee .
•
International
Ju-Jitsu: Using United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1540 to advance nuclear disarmament
(International Association of Lawyers Against
Nuclear Arms)
Back
to Top
Parliamentarians
invited to join international statement to reduce
the risk of nuclear weapons
Parliamentarians
are invited to endorse an international
statement calling for action to reduce the operational
status of nuclear weapons . This includes
lowering the alert and deployment status of
nuclear weapons and abandoning launch-on-warning
and first use policies. More than 40 parliamentarians
from 15 countries including Australia, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the
UK, have joined 18 Nobel Lau reates and over
120 non-governmental organizations in signing.
The statement calls for parliamentary action
on the issue, and to date, resolutions have
been adopted by the Australian
Senate and introduced in the Brazilian
Senate.
Back
to Top
Parliamentarians
and the Non-Proliferation Treaty
In
May 2005 States Parties to the nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty will meet in a five yearly review of
the treaty. The seven foreign ministers of the
New Agenda Coalition ( Brazil, Egypt, Ireland,
Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden)
stated recently that " the primary tool
for controlling nuclear weapons, the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty, risks falling apart,
with further proliferation as a consequence
(see Nonproliferation
and disarmament go hand in hand: Foreign Ministers
warn of possible NPT unraveling )
US
Senator Edward Kennedy remarked recently
"The greatest danger we face in the days and
weeks and months ahead is a nuclear 9/11, and
we hope and pray that it is not already too
late to prevent." Senator
Doug Roche, at a recent meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary
Union in the United Nations, called on parliamentarians
to take action to save the NPT. " I
appeal to you [parliamentarians] to make your
voices heard in your parliaments and committee
meetings with questions, motions, resolutions
and the other tools in your hands before the
NPT Review Conference in 2005. I know what parliamentarians
can do when you mobilize your strength. Governments
dare not listen to you when you speak clearly
and forcefully."
See:
Saving
the Non-Proliferation Treaty: The Role of Parliamentarians,
Senator Douglas Roche
Sample
parliamentary questions on the NPT
Model
parliamentary resolution on the NPT
Back
to Top
New
Zealand Prime Minister calls on parliamentarians
globally to work for a nuclear weapons free
world
NZ
Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, addressing
an international conference of parliamentarians
in New Zealand , called on parliamentarians
globally to act more vigorously to achieve a
nuclear weapons free world, and highlighted
the special responsibility of Nuclear Weapon
States to take the lead in the abolition and
elimination of nuclear weapons.
The conference, sponsored by the Parliamentary
Network for Nuclear Disarmament and Parliaments
for Global Action (New Zealand), brought parliamentarians
from around the world to consider ways to strengthen
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and support
a Southern Hemisphere and Adjacent Areas Nuclear
Weapon Free Zone.
Please
click here
for more information about the conference
or here for
the Prime Minister's speech
Back
to Top
United
States Congress cuts funds for nuclear weapons
research and development
The
US Congress in November eliminated the financing
of research supported by President Bush into
a new generation of nuclear weapons, including
investigations into low-yield atomic bombs and
an earth-penetrating warhead that could destroy
weapons bunkers deep underground.
President
Bush's fiscal 2005 budget contained a $27 million
request to continue research on modifying two
existing warheads for the earth-penetrator,
or "bunker-buster," role, and it projected
nearly $500 million over the next five years
should a weapon be approved.
Rep.
David L. Hobson (Republican, Ohio ), chairman
of the House Appropriations subcommittee on
energy and water development, oversaw dropping
the money from the military appropriations bill.
Republicans and Democrats argued that such research
by the United States could trigger a new arms
race, and that the existence of lower-yield
weapons -- sometimes called "mini-nukes"
-- would ultimately increase the likelihood
of war.
Also
cut from the nuclear program was $7 million
for selecting a site for a $4 billion facility
that would build plutonium pits, the nuclear
triggers for thermonuclear warheads. Arms-control
advocates had opposed the facility, arguing
that with a sharp 50 percent reduction in the
U.S. nuclear stockpile, a small facility operating
now at Los Alamos National Laboratory could
produce enough pits for the U.S. arsenal.
United
States Congress allows US-UK nuclear collaboration
to be renewed
The
US Congress took no action on the U.S.-British
Mutual Defense Agreement when it was submitted
by the administration for a required 60 session
days for consideration prior to renewal. The
agreement was thus renewed in November for another
decade. It establishes procedures for the US
and UK to "communicate to or exchange with the
other party such classified information, sensitive
nuclear technology, and controlled nuclear information"
needed for the allies' nuclear defense plans,
delivery systems and military reactors. The
agreement does not include transfer of actual
nuclear weapons, but allows for exchange of
enriched uranium.
Consideration
of the agreement by the UK parliament was blocked
by the government following attempts by parliamentarians
to open debate (See PNND
Update 9 : United
Kingdom - Trident Replacement and UK/USA Collaboration
)
While
details of the nuclear exchanges remain classified,
experts believe the United States passed on
warhead designs for its submarine-based Trident
ballistic nuclear missiles. Opponents say the
agreement undermines the two countries' stances
on nonproliferation, while representatives of
both governments argue that it supports the
safety, security and reliability of their respective
nuclear arsenals.
See:
U.S.-U.K.
Mutual Defense Agreement Extended By Chris
Schneidmiller. Global Security Newswire
Back
to Top
UN
High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and
Change
Anand
Panyarachun, former Prime Minister of Thailand
and Chair of the United Nations High Level Panel
on Threats Challenges and Change, presented
the final report of the Panel to United Nations
Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 2 December 2004
. The Panel included key recommendations on
Security Council reform, the use of force, weapons
of mass destruction, terrorism, poverty and
the environment, many of which the panel hope
s will be adopted by world leaders at the 2005
summit on implementing the UN Millennium Declaration.
Mr Annan hope s that political momentum for
the adoption of such recommendations - or variations
of them - will be generated over the next few
months by civil society actions.
With
respect to weapons of mass destruction, the
report calls for "negotiations towards disarmament"
and "enforcing [current] international agreements."
It also calls for "the creation of incentives
for States to forego the development of domestic
uranium enrichment and reprocessing capacity."
Parliamentarians
are invited to discuss the panel's recommendations
in parliament in order help shape their government's
responses.
Documents:
•
UN
Secretary-General welcomes recommendations on
a more secure world and strengthened United
Nations
•
Summary
of the UN High Level Panel Report
•
UN
High Level Panel Report
Back
to Top
Commission
on Weapons of Mass Destruction
The
International Weapons
of Mass Destruction Commission , headed
by Dr Hans Blix and comprising 14
other international experts , has met four
times since its establishment at the beginning
of 2004 to investigate ways to reduce current
risks from nuclear, biological and chemical
weapons. The most recent session was in Cairo
from 31 Dec 2004 to 2 January 2005 .
The
Commission will meet another three - four times
before submitting its final report to the UN
Secretary-General in early 2006.
The
Commission invites input
from academics, civil society and parliamentarians,
with particular focus on ideas for reducing
current risks from nuclear, biological and chemical
weapons. Contact www.wmdcommission.org
or secretariat@wmdcommission.org
Back
to Top
Canada
establishes a National Section of PNND
On
October 21, following briefings in the Canadian
parliament by Senator Douglas Roche (former
Canadian Disarmament Ambassador) and Alyn Ware
(PNND Global Coordinator), parliamentarians
from the various Canadian political parties,
established the Canadian Section of PNND. Maria
Minna MP (Liberal) was appointed Chair. Vice-Chairs
are Alexa
McDonough
MP (Foreign Affairs Critic, New Democratic Party)
and Francine Lalonde (Foreign Affairs Critic,
Bloc Quebecois). To date forty-six Canadian
members of parliament have joined the group.
(See PNND
Members for a full list of PNND
Canada members).
PNND
Canada discusses Ballistic Missile Defense
On
November 18 former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament
Peggy Mason and UK Labour MP Alan Simpson provided
a breakfast-time briefing on ballistic missile
defence (BMD) to the Canadian section of PNND.
Eleven parliamentarians representing three of
the four political parties were represented.
The briefing focused on the possible political
impact of the development of BMD including Russia
's announced response to develop 'new' nuclear
weapons.
On
December 7 PNND Canada held a briefing on the
issue by former United States Ambassador Jonathan
Dean, focusing on the threats posed by BMD to
peace in space. The briefing included a discussion
of alternatives to BMD that Canada , and other
nations, could take to help address the
threat of long-range ballistic missile attacks,
nuclear arms build up and the possible weaponization
of space. Several parliamentarians expressed
a commitment to introduce a motion recommending
the measures to the Foreign Affairs and
International Trade committee in 2005.
See:
Canada
could make critical contribution to international
peace by refusing to join U.S. missile defence
shield: British MP , The Hill Times, November
22.
Back
to Top
PNND
Member Update
PNND
has prepared a list of members with links to
their web-pages. This is posted at PNND
members . PNND members can learn about members
from parliaments in other countries. PNND supporters
can see who is and who is not a member from
their parliament.
Back
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