Vatican affirms peace and security are possible without weapons

(May 06,2009): The Holy See has called on the international community to promote nuclear disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons, in order to foster trust, security and peace among nations. Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, affirmed this on Tuesday to a preparatory committee for the 2010 review conference on the Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons treaty. He underlined the Holy See's strong and continuing support for the treaty, after four decades of its existence, and its good service to the international community. He noted however, that more than 26,000 nuclear warheads still remain in the world, and some nations are still racing to join the nuclear club, despite the treaty's legally binding obligations in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation.
Archbishop Migliore stressed that as long as nuclear weapons exist, they will always pose a danger to humanity of being used or falling into the hands of terrorists, threatening peace and security and human existence itself. He said the many initiatives taken by Governments, international organizations and civil society to achieve a nuclear weapons free world, are steps in the right direction, as they inspire renewed hope that the goal of a nuclear-weapons-free world is achievable.
Archbishop Migliore concluded saying that “a greater common effort must be made to mobilize resources toward ethical, cultural and economic development, so that humanity can turn its back on the arms race."