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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.
Hon
Matt Robson, PNND Member, and Alyn Ware, PNND Global
Coordinator, with white poppies in the New Zealand
parliament commemorating the 59th anniversary of the
nuclear bombing of Hiroshima.
On
September 21, the International Herald Tribune published
a statement
from the seven New Agenda Coalition (NAC) foreign
ministers (Celso Amorim of Brazil; Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit
of Egypt; Brian Cowen of Ireland; Luis Ernesto Derbez
Bautista of Mexico; Phil Goff of New Zealand; Nkosazana
Dlimini-Zuma of South Africa; and Laila Freivalds of
Sweden) warning that the Non-Proliferation Treaty could
unravel leading to further nuclear proliferation if
countries did not place equivalent energy into disarmament
as they do to non-proliferation. NAC will be introducing
a draft resolution to the United Nations General Assembly
on this issue in October 2004 in preparation for the
Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May 2005.
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On
August 13, the Security Council Committee established
pursuant to resolution
1540 (the 1540 Committee) adopted Terms
of Reference (Guidelines for the Conduct of its work)
and Guidelines
for National Reports and distributed them to all
UN member States.
Resolution
1540 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, d) cooperation
with other States to achieve non-proliferation
The
guidelines call on all States to report to the Committee
by October 28 on steps they have taken or plan to take
to implement the resolution.
The
International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear
Arms has urged all States to take action on both non-proliferation
and disarmament obligations, and to extend criminal
responsibility to both State and non-State actors (See
International
Ju-Jitsu: Using United Nations Security Council Resolution
1540 to advance nuclear disarmament )
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The
United Nations General Assembly's First Committee (Disarmament
and International Security) meets from October 4 – November 5 in New York to take action on disarmament
and non-proliferation issues.
UN
General Assembly First Committee website
Reaching
Critical Will website on the UNGA First Committee
(includes continual updates on draft resolutions, debates,
and previous year's voting records)
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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 Laureates and over
120 non-governmental organizations in signing 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.
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.
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PNND
and Mayors
for Peace have developed informal mechanisms for
collaboration following a joint forum between the two
networks at the United Nations in April 2004. PNND members
and supporters are encouraged to inform mayors of the
Mayors for Peace emergency
campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons .
Mayors for Peace has recently contacted over 600 mayors
around the world with a call for action, particularly
focused on the 2005 NPT Review Conference, and with
disarmament resources designed for public education.
In
early 2005 Mayors for Peace, assisted by PNND, will
organize mayoral delegations to capital cities to present
a statement signed by mayors and to consult with heads
of government, foreign ministers and members of parliament
in order to promote and support inter-governmental efforts
for nuclear disarmament.
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NZ
Chapter distributes white poppies
Hon
Nick Smith MP, on behalf of the New Zealand chapter
of the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament,
circulated white poppies to all New Zealand parliamentarians
to wear on August 5-6 to commemorate Hiroshima Day,
the anniversary of the first use of nuclear weapons
in war. Mr Smith noted the "tensions between Pakistan
and India as well as the ongoing concerns about North
Korea" as a reason that parliamentarians "must be
vigilant in our efforts to work internationally to
stop nuclear proliferation and towards nuclear disarmament."
NZ
Chapter considers UNSC 1540 and operational status
of nuclear weapons
On
September 14, the New Zealand Chapter of PNND held
a roundtable discussion on national implementation
of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 with
Caroline McDonald ,
Director, Disarmament Division, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade and Roger Clark ,
Professor of Criminal Law, International Law, Foreign
Relations and National Security Law, and International
Criminal Law, Rutgers School of Law, New Jersey, USA.
PNND followed up with a letter to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs requesting that the government remain
engaged with PNND on proposed actions to implement
UNSC Resolution 1540 and on the government's draft
report to the Security Council Committee.
Belgian
parliament resolution on the NPT
On
2 June 2004 Dirk Van der Maelen and Muriel Gerkens,
introduced draft Resolution 1175 into the Belgian
Parliament requesting the government to make efforts
to maintain the NPT and respect all its aspects, especially
the disarmament obligations under Article VI. The
resolution calls for concrete initiatives and measures
including the establishment of a strict disarmament
calendar at the 2005 NPT Review Conference and the
conclusion of concrete disarmament agreements for
the next 5 years. The resolution also calls for revision
of NATO strategic doctrine, the removal of American
tactical nuclear weapons from Europe, prohibition
of nuclear weapons on the territory of new NATO members,
and the creation of a European denuclearized zone.
French
and Flemish text of draft resolution
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PNND
New Zealand in conjunction with Parliamentarians
for Global Action (New Zealand) will host an international
forum in the Parliament of New Zealand on 8 December
2004, focusing on parliamentary actions to support the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty leading up to its review
in 2005, and to promote the establishment of a Southern
Hemisphere and Adjacent Areas Nuclear Weapon Free Zone.
Contact alyn@pnnd.org
or register
online . The
forum will follow a Consultative
Assembly of Parliamentarians for the International Criminal
Court and the Rule of Law in Wellington,
6-7 December 2004.
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House
Bill HR.4965
prohibits the transfer of nuclear enrichment
materials and reprocessing equipment to any country
that the president determines is acquiring a nuclear
explosive device. Presidential determination must
be based on the receipt of credible information and/or
evidence. The president is required to report this
evidence to Congressional committees, but the imposition
and duration of sanctions (which can be imposed on
a United States person or a foreigner within American
jurisdiction) is left to the president's discretion.
HR.4965
also provides a reward for cooperative countries.
Countries aiding either the United States or its allies
in counter-proliferation will receive assistance,
either in the form of arms exports or monetary aid.
Again, the president must notify Congress before acting,
and appropriations of up to US$250,000,000 will be
set aside to fulfill the aid provision. The bill was
introduced by Rep.
Tom Lantos (CA-12) on 22 July and has been referred
to the Committee
on International Relations.
Senate
Bill S.2777
imposes certain health and safety measures with
regard to the resumption of underground nuclear testing.
S.2777 covers all future underground nuclear tests
by the United States, whether at the Nevada Test Site
(NTS) or another location. The bill requires Congressional
authorization prior to the resumption of any tests,
as well as public notice of testing. Also, a public
meeting after the test, which will discuss the details
of the test including the extent of radiation released,
is required. S.2777 imposes other measures in the
aftermath of the test mandating the study of the effects
of the test, specifically the radiation it releases.
These measures include the establishment of a Nevada
Test Site Citizens Review Board, which must meet prior
to any testing at the NTS, a National Academy of Sciences
study on safety and health following the test, and
the establishment of a National Center for Radiation
and Human Health in an area near the NTS. The bill
was introduced by Sen.
Robert Bennett (R-UT) on 7 September 2004 and
has been referred to the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources. Senator Bennett
describes the bill as a way to prevent the resumption
of nuclear testing (see Bennett
Bill Halts Nuclear Testing Without Congressional Approval,
Public Input).
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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 relevant to their
concerns and interests. PNND supporters can see who
is and who is not a member from their parliament.
Douglas
Roche, Chair of the Middle Powers Initiative, former
Disarmament Ambassador for Canada and founder of the
Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, recently
retired from the Canadian Senate. On 20 September,
to recognise his significant contributions to peace,
disarmament and human security, the ambassadors (to
Canada) of Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, Aotearoa-New
Zealand, South Africa and Sweden, gave Senator Roche
a special award at a dinner in his honour hosted by
New Zealand Ambassador Graham Kelly. PNND joins the
New Agenda Coalition in thanking Doug for his inspiration,
initiative and energy in the development of the network
and wishes him all the best for his future. He remains
an active Friend of PNND.
Douglas
Roche O.C., receiving an award from the New Agenda
Coalition ambassadors to Canada
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PNND
Update 10