BANNING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, A MORAL, LEGAL AND POLITICAL CHALLENGE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 1999 (VIS) - Yesterday in New York, Archbishop Renato Martino, permanent representative of the Holy See to the United Nations, addressed the Forum of Spiritual Leaders on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which he called "the preeminent instrument to bring about the complete elimination of nuclear weapons."

Speaking at U.N. headquarters about the preparations for the 2000 Review of the NPT, he said that "despite all the difficulties, ... the Holy See never wavers from what it has said on several occasions: 'Nuclear weapons are incompatible with the peace we seek for the 21st century. They cannot be justified. They deserve condemnation. The preservation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty demands an unequivocal commitment to their abolition. ... This is a moral challenge, a legal challenge, and a political challenge. That multiple-based challenge must be met by the application of our humanity'."

The archbishop pointed out that the 1995 extension of the NPT was accompanied by a Program of Action "which called for a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). ... Since then the CTBT has been signed by 152 States, but its ratification by the requisite number of States and hence entry into force is far from certain."

The Holy See observer went on to list some of the signs of lack of progress in the NPT process: delayed negotiations for a fissile ban; barely discernible "'systematic' progress in nuclear disarmament"; "START II (Strategic Arms Reduction Talks) is not yet in force"; "nuclear testing by new States"; "continued high military spending in virtually every region of the world"; "resurgence of militarism in the resolution of the dispute over Kosovo and the continued intransigencies in Iraq"; and "the many conflicts ravaging Africa."

"Enormous human suffering, atrocities and forced deportations of peoples are an unacceptable scourge," affirmed Archbishop Martino. "The gross violations of human rights and human dignity are intolerable and must be stopped. There can never be peace in the world while such injustices abound."

He added that "while militarism of all kinds must be checked, the abolition of nuclear weapons is the prerequisite for peace in the 21st century. ... Therefore, the present difficulties must be overcome.

"In order for the 'road map' to be clearer," the archbishop remarked, "the Holy See favors a new set of 'Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament' to be adopted by the 2000 Review," suggesting that these "should reinforce the political accountability that is critical to the vitality and viability of the NPT process."

In concluding remarks, he stressed that "the activities of believers in the field of disarmament are a blessing and a service to humanity."

DELSS;NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT;...;U.N.; MARTINO;VIS;19990521;Word: 440;