at the INES 2000 Conference
Initial Statement
We believe that no state has the right or special privilege to own weapons of mass destruction.
Our Goal
To achieve rapid and complete abolition of nuclear weapons and for immediate steps to be taken in this regard.
 We remain dissatisfied with the progress of Nuclear Weapons States (NWS) towards dismantling their nuclear weapons and are deeply concerned that this may lead to further proliferation.
The greatest obstacle to progress in obtaining nuclear disarmament is the current plan of the United States to develop NMD/TMD systems which will stimulate a new nuclear arms race, missile proliferation and the militarisation of space.
Further obstacles include the continued development and modernising of nuclear weapons systems; the failure of some states to ratify the CTBT; continued adherence to deterrence strategy by NWS and their allies (e.g.NATO); and counter proliferation strategies.
Military intervention in conflicts outside the UN framework is a stimulation to proliferation.
The nuclearisation of India, Pakistan and Israel further raises the threat of the use of nuclear weapons in regional conflicts and of nuclear proliferation.
Positive Action that could be taken
1. National Missile Defense/Space
NMD should not be deployed.
The ABMTreaty should be preserved, strengthened and internationalised.
The weaponisation of space should be prevented by International Law.
2. Nuclear Weapon States
NATO should abandon all strategies involving nuclear weapons.
Nuclear weapons should be withdrawn from Non Nuclear Weapons States (NNWS) and from areas of common heritage such as the oceans.
All NWS should provide legally binding security assurances of no use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against NNWS and give a commitment of No First Use of nuclear weapons by themselves.
Concrete and immediate steps must be taken by NWS to implement their obligations under International Law and to reduce nuclear threats. Steps to be taken should include de-alerting, an agreement on a Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty, No First Use, the ratification of CTBT, etc.
Negotiations on START III should be accelerated.
3. Nuclear Weapons Free Zones (NWFZ)
Existing NFWZ should be strengthened and new ones created.
4. Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC)
Negotiations on a NWC, including Comprehensive Verification and Security Systems, should be entered into and speedily completed.
5. Public awareness
There should be greater public education on these issues and greater educational work by scientists and engineers.
The rights and obligations of citizens should be strengthened (whistle blowing, societal verification, etc.)
See www.ines2000.org for a selection of conference papers.
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