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Editorial
Nuclear Non-Proliferation
This month, for over three weeks, the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is being held in New York (Insight, page 8). This vitally important gathering of representatives of many States has been hailed by the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches as an "opportunity for success". Christians around the world will rightly pray for a constructive engagement by all participants and for a successful outcome. The conference has a very wideranging agenda and the themes have been carefully chosen through a preparatory process.
However, somewhat disappointingly, the UN has reported that while according to the agreement reached by the 2000 Review Conference, the preparatory committee was expected to make every effort to produce a consensus report containing recommendations to this month’s Review Conference, nonetheless "due to the persistence of divergent views" the committee was unable to reach agreement on the substantive issues under consideration. Yet, the signing of a nuclear arms reduction treaty in Prague only last month by the US and Russian Presidents sets a more positive note and provides a model of forthright leadership in a matter of profound global concern.
Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, which world powers believe is masking a drive for atomic weapons, is an especially live issue and there have been offers of mediation. For the sake of the world, it is imperative that the Iran situation is effectively resolved. While, with agreement, nuclear weapons can be dismantled, the capacity to manufacture them itself remains a threat to the world and it is for that reason that nuclear disarmanent and a commitment to non-proliferation are twin concerns. The Church must uphold the New York conference in its prayers for the sake of God’s people and God’s world.
At Easter, Scottish Church leaders jointly condemned the plans to renew the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons programme. In the course of a joint letter, they rightly said: "Nuclear weapons by their very existence undermine the security of the whole world and are inconsistent with the traditional theories of just war. We believe that tackling injustice, poverty and inequality would lead to a safer world for all." Such sentiments need to be expressed - again and again.