END EUR PE News, updates and information | European Nuclear Disarmament INFO Issue 2 | April 2019 | Produced by the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation Nuclear-Weapons- Hungary, Moldova, Poland, The complementary nature of Free Zones Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. NWFZ proposals is important to This combination of states composed emphasise. Any proposal for a new how they work the ‘core group’ of a NWFZ proposed initiative for the creation of a If the INF Treaty arose, at least in by Belarus in 1990. The states in the European NWFZ should be seen as a part, from the campaign for a core group have no nuclear weapons specific measure in response to the nuclear-weapons-free zone in deployed within their boundaries. proposed US withdrawal from the Europe, then it acted as an important With the unilateral withdrawal of the INF Treaty and not as an alternative instrument against the threat that US from the INF Treaty and Russia’s to existing disarmament measures Europe could become an actual response, this arrangement is under such as the Treaty on the Prohibition ‘theatre’ of nuclear war. Such a severe threat. of Nuclear Weapons. In fact, function is an essential component of Threats to this arrangement are of encouraging the creation of NWFZs NWFZ proposals. It has been some considerable consequence, not is the responsibility of signatories to suggested that the INF Treaty, in only due to the likely the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of combination with the START 1 disestablishment of a quasi-NWFZ in Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Treaty and ‘Presidential Nuclear and of itself but because NWFZ’s So the basis for the creation of a Initiatives’ signed in 1991 and the carry the function of reducing risks of NWFZ in Europe is established, but 1992 Lisbon Protocol, combined – to proliferation and escalation. The what – beyond a response to the all intents and purposes – to create a location of a quasi-NWFZ in the destabilising of the INF – could be its NWFZ in the Baltic States, Belarus, geographical periphery of Russia is of main objectives? The 2016 Peace Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, obvious importance and Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) functionality. working paper, A Nuclear Weapon- Free-Zone in Europe: Concepts-Problems- Chances, outlines a number of such objectives: 1. Security objectives in the narrow sense, 2. Political- symbolic objectives and 3. Adapting defence policies to the political situation in Europe. More detail is given within each of the three objectives. The basis for a European NWFZ is clearly established. Can we build a network, movements and action to make one a reality? This is the task we have set ourselves. Join us! Visit www.russfound,org for information on the work of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation and for more on the END campaigns in the 1980s. News from Greece On Hiroshima day in 2017, we free world, whilst hoping that there managed to add 35 more mayors in will be a better political moment in Europe is at a difficult crossroads on Greece, who have joined the “Mayors future. the nuclear issue. The INF Treaty is for Peace” network. There is always hope. When we all dead but there is hope, for example, The “Peace Boat” has visited started to fight for the NPT and the that the TPNW will soon be signed Greece twice and we organised their other anti-nuclear Treaties, the and ratified. So we are happy that the actions, in order to spread the political climate was worse, but we Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation message of Hibakusha testimonies won. The urgent elimination of has revived European Nuclear and push for a change of vote at the nuclear weapons is the only cure for Disarmament – END – to unite once UN. this disease that threatens all more European people against this In 2015 the representatives of Peace humanity. deadly threat. Boat were officially accepted by the In Greece, though there are no president of the Greek Democracy, Maria Arvaniti Sotiropoulou longer any nuclear weapons, the Mr Pavlopoulos. After ICAN was President of the Greek Affiliate Souda naval base facilitates NATO’s awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Mr Representative of ICAN in Greece ships and submarines carrying nuclear Pavlopoulos officially congratulated us weapons. Now there is a new danger, and underlined the steady if the Insirlic base in Turkey were to commitment of the Greek state close, that the USA nuclear arsenal against nuclear weapons. Enough spending on could be moved to Greece. The “Peace Boat" and Hibakusha nuclear weapons! As IPPNW and ICAN in Greece delegation were accepted three times we work on three levels: education in in the Greek Parliament – 2015, 2017, News from France schools and public, the media, and 2018 – and MP’s from all political meetings with the government. parties declared their commitment for Mouvement de la Paix, a French non- Using our medical prestige and a nuclear free world. governmental organization founded They were welcomed at the knowledge, we educate the people in 1948 is dedicated to promoting Ministry of Foreign Affairs twice about the nuclear danger through peace, opposing wars and nuclear (2105, 2016). The Prime Minister lectures in schools, municipalities, weapons. It reiterates its opposition Alexis Tsipras welcomed them at the cultural unions and through articles. to the military programming law Maximou Palace on June 6, 2018. We remember the history of the 2019-2025, which devotes 295 billion We are in contact with the Cypriot Anti-nuclear movement, honour the to an increase in the military budget. pioneers like Nikos Nikiforidis and Minister of Foreign Affairs and parliamentarians in order to remind Concretely, from 34 billion to 44 Grigoris Lambrakis, and we use all the billion per year, it brings this anniversaries to create events or them of the promise they made in Munich last month (February 2019) to expenditure to 2% of France's GDP publish articles in the press. (which is of 2,200 billions), the In collaboration with others, we use ICAN, that they will soon sign TPNW. We are not optimistic for highest increase in military spending. every opportunity to stage major This represents an increase from events and to pressurize the several reasons. On March 22 2019 a 8.5% to more than 11.3% of the state government. meeting was held in Jerusalem budget (386 Billion/year). This is no We collect signatures from the between the leaders of Israel, Cyprus less than 37 billion for the public in support of the TPNW and and Greece with the presence of the modernisation of the French nuclear from MP’s for the Parliamentarian US Foreign Secretary about the force by 2025. "The cost of nuclear Pledge. protection of oil lines in the region against ‘Turkish aggression' and a new deterrence will double to 6 billion US nuclear ship docked at the Suda euros per year by 2030". (Crete) naval base. By modernizing its weapons and We shall use the May 2019 dedicating such an increase in its European and Municipality elections budget, France loses its credibility to to underline the nuclear danger, prevent other countries from gaining especially after the end of INF. access to nuclear weapons. These On April 22 (Panos Trigazis had the nuclear weapons are illegal, idea) PADOP will for the first time dangerous, costly, militarily useless award the ‘NN Medal' (Nikos and ethically unacceptable. All other Nikiforidis – Non Nuclear) to people weapons of mass destruction are who work for nuclear abolition. prohibited. There is an urgent need Though we are not optimistic about to ratify the treaty banning nuclear a change of policy in Greece for our weapons, which was voted in July cause, we will keep reminding people 2017 at the United Nations. of the lethal and urgent danger of the Enough spending on these nuclear threat and push any weapons of mass destruction! Grigoris Lambrakis government and all political parties to Mouvement de la Paix is strongly gain their commitment for a nuclear involved in the campaign against nuclear weapons, for instance by its (Peace and Neutrality Alliance - participation in the celebration of the Ireland), Kathrin Vogel (Bundestag International Day of Peace 21 member for the Die Linke party) September. It is also “fighting” against militarization of space and 2. The Atlantic counter-offensive. against the arms trade with in Speaker: Kees van der Pijl (em. particular the mobilizations against Professor of international relations the Eurosatory exhibition, held every University of Sussex) tow years in June in Paris Villepinte. 3. The action of the peace movement What an honnor for France if this and peaceful alternatives such as an country would renounce inclusive European security system modernizing its nuclear arsenal and Speakers: Tiny Kox (Senator SP), to commit itself to disarmament! Kees Nieuwerth (Quakers Netherlands). Interested parties are Patrice Salzenstein asked to send a message to Mouvement de la Paix, France Security without Nuclear Deterrence by Commander Robert Green RN (Ret’d) [email protected] or Oorlogisgeen Available from www.spokesmanbooks.com [email protected]. They will then be kept informed of news about this Authorising the Use meeting. In evidence to the Inquiry, Admiral of Military Force: West stated that legal responsibility for ‘Legality’ of a Nuclear a nuclear first strike should rest with the political decision makers. NATO: 70 years too Strike Such views are very significant indeed as the UK nuclear forces many The UK Parliament’s Public operate in a zone of ‘legal opacity’, to As we head for NATO’s 70th birthday, Administration and Constitutional say the very least. The developing it’s time to assess the nuclear-armed Affairs Committee has set up an discussion and deliberations of the military alliance that came into being Inquiry titled ‘The Role of Parliament Inquiry are worth following in detail.