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

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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)).

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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)

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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