Sign-On Letter to Heads of State - NPT Review Conference -Abolishing N-Weapons

[John Hallam <nonukes at foesyd.org.au>]

John Hallam
Friends of the Earth Sydney,
17 Lord Street, Newtown, NSW, Australia, 2042
Fax (61)(2)9517-3902  ph (61)(2)9517-3903
nonukes at foesyd.org.au
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd


RE: ENSURING A SUCCESSFUL NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE.
ABOLISHING NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Dear Everyone,

Can you put your signature to this?

It is  a sign- on letter for organisations and parliamentarians, to heads
of both nuclear and non- nuclear weapon states, concerning the nuclear
nonproliferation treaty review conference which is coming up April 24-May
19th in New York.

According to Article VI of the NPT, signed as long ago as 1968, and
according to the 1996 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of
Justice, "there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a
conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects
under strict and effective international control" .

The letter asks the nuclear weapons states to do just that, and warns that
if this is not done the credibility of the NPT is at stake.

If you or your organisation thinks that the nuclear weapons states should
fulfil their clear legal obligation to negotiate nuclear weapons out of
existence, please sign this letter.

To sign, email me at

nonukes at foesyd.org.au

John Hallam, Nuclear Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Sydney Australia


TO:
PRESIDENT  BILL CLINTON, (US)
+1-202-456-2461, 1-202-456-2883, 1-202-456-6218, 1-202-456-6201

PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, (RUSSIA)
+7-095-205-4330, +7-095-206-5173,
FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV(RUSSIA)
+7-095-247-2722, +7-095-293-3323

PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, (UK) +44-171-925-0918

PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC (FRANCE)+33-147-42-2465,
PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN (FRANCE) +33-142-34-2677
PRESIDENT JIANG XEMIN (CHINA)
CC
PRIME MINISTER A.B. VAJPAYEE, (INDIA)+91-11-301-6857

PRESIDENT MOHAMMED RAFIQ DARAR(PAKISTAN)
9251-920-3938,
FOREIGN MINISTER ABDUL SATTAR (PAKISTAN)
9251-920-7217

PRIME MINISTER EHUD BARAK (ISRAEL) +972-266-4838,

ALL HEADS OF STATE AND FOREIGN MINISTERS OF STATES PARTY TO THE NUCLEAR
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT)

UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADORS OF STATES PARTY TO THE NPT

RE: ENSURING A SUCCESSFUL NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE.

Dear Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, and Ambassadors,

The undersigned organizations, representing many millions of deeply
concerned people worldwide, are writing to you regarding the  Review
Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) at the United
Nations in New York,  April 24-May 19, 2000. This meeting has crucial
implications not only for NPT member states, but also for non-member
states, especially India,  Pakistan and Israel.

We believe the 2000 Review Conference could and should be a catalyst in
breaking the deadlock in the nuclear disarmament arena. It represents an
opportunity to make real progress toward nuclear disarmament, and nuclear
weapons abolition, which is essential to the achievement of common security
based on human and ecological values and respect for international
institutions and law. Failure in this regard could lead to the unraveling
of the NPT regime.

This is exactly opposite to the wishes and expectations of the majority of
the people of the world. It is clear from recent polls, that the
overwhelming majority of the world's people expect no less than immediate
commencement of multilateral negotiations leading to the elimination of
nuclear weapons through a global treaty in fulfillment of Article VI.

Crucial to the outcome of this Review Conference will be the extent to
which the nuclear weapon states are willing to act on their unambiguous
legal obligation and commitment to the elimination of their nuclear weapons
as called for by Article VI, which states:
"Each of the parties to the treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in
good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms
race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on
general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international
control."

Since the 1995 Review and Extension Conference, the importance of Article
VI and the NPT itself has been reinforced by the International Court of
Justice (ICJ),   which concluded unanimously in its 1996 Advisory Opinion
that:
"there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a
conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects
under strict and effective international control"

While some progress has been achieved over the last decade in the reduction
of the total number of nuclear weapons deployed by the nuclear weapon
states, these states maintain their commitment to highly dangerous nuclear
military doctrines as a cornerstone of their defence and security policy,
some for the indefinite future. Progress on fulfilling Article VI
obligations is thus stalled, and the development of new nuclear dangers is
encouraged.

The following developments represent a growing peril that challenges
international and human security, and to which NPT states parties and
especially nuclear states must respond creatively:

--Ten years after the end of the Cold War, over 30,000 nuclear weapons
remain worldwide, and India and Pakistan have both tested nuclear weapons.

--Though UN and European Parliament  resolutions have drawn attention to
the Article VI obligations and to the ICJ Advisory Opinion, NATO has
jeopardized the NPT by its re-affirmation in April 1999 that nuclear
weapons are 'essential' to its security. While the NATO nuclear policy
review is welcome, it is preempted and undercut by this reaffirmation.

-- The US and Russia failed to respond to worldwide pressure to de- alert
by December 1999, and each maintain over 2000 nuclear warheads on permanent
'launch on warning' status. This continues in spite of the incorporation of
de-alerting into the 1996 recommendations of the Canberra Commission, into
two resolutions  passed by massive majorities in the UN General Assembly in
1998, and again in 1999, and a unanimous resolution of the European
Parliament of November 18,  1999.

--Key states have failed to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
(CTBT), opened for signature in 1996.  The US Senate in October 1999  voted
down ratification, in spite of the nearly unanimous endorsement of that
treaty by the international community and overwhelming US public support
for nuclear disarmament and the CTBT.

--The clear aim of the CTBT is to constrain weapons development:  yet the
US, Russia, and other nuclear states still proceed with the development of
new nuclear weapon types and modifications in computer-simulated 'virtual
reality', with the aid of sub-critical underground nuclear testing, which
undermines both the spirit and purpose of the treaty. In particular, US
activities at the National Ignition Facility and the French Megajoule laser
project enable further weapons development.

--In 2000, the US may decide to deploy a National Ballistic Missile Defence
(NMD) system which would violate the existing Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
of 1972, which is fundamental to the existing strategic arms restraints
between the United States and Russia. NMD deployment could set back
progress on Article VI objectives for years to come.

--Presidential Decision Directive 60 has reaffirmed US use of nuclear
weapons as a 'cornerstone' of its security policy. Meanwhile, Russia has
steadily moved toward a more ready use of nuclear weapons in recent years.
The potential dangers in this are extreme.

In light of the above developments, lack of progress on Article VI
obligations poses the increasing danger that some non-nuclear states will
conclude that it is in their interests to acquire nuclear weapons, while
those that have already tested them will proceed to further weaponisation
and expansion of their arsenals.

A positive and creative response to the above, and commitment and
leadership on behalf of both human life and all other life is urgently
demanded.

Of critical importance in addressing the currently unacceptable situation
are interim measures such as de-alerting,  and the removal of weapons from
delivery systems, aimed at decreasing the possibility of accidental nuclear
war and at increasing mutual trust and establishing a momentum toward
nuclear weapons elimination.

NPT states parties should resolve,  as a first step,  that all nuclear
forces be immediately stood down from high alert status.

We urge all  nuclear weapons states leaders, and all NPT Review
participants, as a matter of the highest priority and urgency, as well as a
clear legal obligation, to take action to complete unfinished disarmament
objectives and to begin urgent negotiations toward a treaty to eliminate
nuclear weapons.

Immediate steps (both in the CD and other fora)  must be taken by the
nuclear states that will lead clearly and swiftly toward negotiations in
fulfillment of Article VI.

You, as a world leader,  have the fate of the world  in your hands during
these discussions.  We therefore  strongly urge you to attend this review
conference, as you have the authority to commence negotiations to eliminate
nuclear weapons.  By doing so, you can to alter the course of history and
leave a legacy of a more secure future for this generation and for those to
come. Failure to do so risks a revived nuclear arms race that ultimately
could destroy civilization.

(Signed)

(International Organizations)

Kate Dewes, Vice-President, International Peace Bureau,  Christchurch, NZ.,
Bruna Nota,/Felicity Hill, Womens International League for Peace and
Freedom, (WILPF), Geneva/NY,
Ian Maddocks (Chair), Dr. Mary Wynne-Asford, Co-President,  Merav Datan,
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW),
Cambridge, Mass,
Rosalie Bertell, GNSH., President, International Institute of Concern for
Public Health, Toronto, Canada,

Dr. Maria Minkova, 'Ekoglasnost', Friends of the Earth Bulgaria, Sofia,

Commander Robert Green, RN (Retd.), Chair, World Court Project, UK,
Janet Bloomfield, former chair CND, Saffron Walden Group Against Nuclear
Weapons, England,
Xanthe Hall, IPPNW Germany, Berlin,
Solange Fernex, President, WILPF France, Paris, France,

Vladimir Slivyak, Social-Ecological Union, Moscow,
Oleg Bodrov, Chair, 'Green World', Sosnovy Bor, Leningrad Oblast, Russia,
Andrey Sukhnev, Ecotourism Centre, Lake Baikal, Russia,

Dr. Caroline Lucas, MEP, Greens Group,UK, European Parliament,
Gorka Knorr Borrass, MEP, European Parliament,

Steve Leeper, Transnet, Hiroshima, Japan.,

Marylia Kelley, Tri-Valley CARES, Livermore, Calif,
Alice Slater, Global Resource and Action Centre for the Environment,(GRACE)
New York,
Carah Ong, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Santa Barbara, Calif,
Ellen Thomas, Proposition-One Committee, Washington DC, USA.,
Bob Musil, Executive Director, Physicians for Global Responsibility, (IPPNW
USA), Washington DC.,
John Burroughs, Executive Director, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy,
(LCNP) N.Y., USA.,
Richard N. Salvador, Pacific Islands Association of NGOs, Honolulu, Hawaii,
Donald C. Whitmore, President, Third Millenium Foundation, US.,
Joe Katz, President, Women's Action for New Directions (WAND), Metro
Detroit, USA.,
Dana L. Richter PhD, Copper Country Peace Alliance, Houghton, Mich, USA.,
Troy Davis, President, World Citizen Foundation, Harvard, USA.,
Alastair Millar, Fourth Freedom Forum, Washington DC., USA.,
Bob Kinsey, Chair, Peace and Justice Task Force, United Church of Christ,
Rocky Mountain Conference, USA.,
Michele Bisonette Robbins, Executive Director, Youth for Environment and
Sanity (YES), Soquel, Ca, USA.,
Ruth Garbus, Director, New York Women of Vision and Action., NY., USA.,
Shiela Blaker, Blaine Metcalf, War Resisters League, San Luis Obispo,
CA.,USA.,

Barbara Birkett,M.D.,President, Physicians  for Global Survival (Canada)
Michael Murphy, Inter-Church Uranium Educational Cooperative, Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan, Canada,
Prof. L. Terrell-Gardner, Past President, Science for Peace, Univ. of
Toronto, Canada,
Tryna Booth, Canadian Peace Alliance, Toronto, Canada.,

Marion Hancock, Coordinator, Peace Foundation Aotearoa/NZ, Auckland, NZ.,

John Hallam, Nuclear Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Australia (Sydney)
Irene Gale AM, Babs Fuller- Quinn, Australian Peace Committee
Dr. Susan Wareham President MAPW (Medical Association for Prevention of
War- ) Canberra, Australia,
Kirsten Blair, Mark Wakeham, Coordinators, Environment Centre of the
Northern Territory,
Grant Keady, Scientists and Technologists Against Nuclear Dumping, W.A.,
Dr. Carmen Lawrence, MP, Labor, Fremantle, W.A.,
Jill Hall, MP, Shortland, NSW.,