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European Parliamentarians call for withdrawal
of US nuclear weapons

Media Advisory, March 23, 2010
Contact: Uta Zapf, Member of the Bundestag; +49 30 227 7 49 73
Xanthe Hall, PNND German Coordinator: xanthe@ippnw.org; +49 30 698 07412

Parliamentarians from four European countries are calling on the US President Barack Obama to withdraw nuclear weapons from their countries. US nuclear gravity bombs are still deployed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. A letter is presently being circulated in the parliaments of these countries that calls for nuclear weapons to be withdrawn with the aim of collecting as many signatures of parliamentarians as possible. The letter will be presented to Barack Obama in April.

Uta Zapf, Member of the German Bundestag photo credit: Amelia H. Krales

The aim of this first step is to support the ongoing negotiation process between the US and Russia and encourage them to take further steps in arms control and disarmament which look beyond the START process. The action also is intended to give support to initiatives and groups from civil society who call for Global Zero, as well as helping advance a process leading to the elimination of all nuclear weapons.

Uta Zapf, Co-President of the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament said, "Today there is a window of opportunity for nuclear disarmament. Therefore it is necessary to support the ongoing negotiation process between the US and Russia and to make sure that the NPT review conference will have a successful outcome. The withdrawal of the tactical weapons from Europe would be a sign to non-nuclear weapons states that disarmament is on its way. I am glad that parliamentarians from different European countries advocate this view."

The action will be completed in time for the Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in New York which takes place every five years and is scheduled for May of this year. This conference sorely needs a sign that real disarmament measures are taking place and that the nuclear weapon states are prepared to fulfil their disarmament commitments under international law.

Initial signatories of the letter

Jan van Aken, MP German Bundestag, PNND member

Angelien Eijsink, MP The Netherlands, Defence Spokesperson for PvdA

Philippe Mahoux, Senator, Belgium, PNND member

Federica Mogherini, MP Chamber of Deputies Italy, Secretary of Defence Committee, PNND Council Member for Italy

Sebahat Tuncel, MP, Vice Co-chairperson of the Democratic Society Party, Turkey

Dirk Van der Maelen, MP Belgium, PNND member,

Uta Zapf, MP German Bundestag, Co-Chair PNND

Read the letter here: http://www.gsinstitute.org/pnnd/archives/MP_Obama.html