Archbp. Chullikatt calls for all weapons to be silenced
October 23, 2013: Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, the Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent
Observer of the Holy See to the UN, has called for general and complete disarmament. Speaking
at the First Committee of the 68th session of the General Assembly, on the Tuesday
October 22, Archbishop Chullikatt said that this moment in history offers a moment
of opportunity to rid the world of chemical and nuclear weapons. “A red light for
one form of weapons did not mean a green light for others”. He therefore called for
a complete stop to all violence and for all weapons to be silenced. Referring to
a small number of States stand in the way, trying to block progress and to find a
comprehensive solution to the problem, he also took a strong exception to Nations
who remain silent on issues related to total disarmament, he said “It is sadly ironic
that States vociferous in their condemnation of chemical weapons are silent on the
continued possession of nuclear weapons. The international community must appeal
and act with one voice to ban all weapons of mass destruction.
Below,
please find the entire text of the intervention: INTERVENTION OF ARCHBISHOP FRANCIS
CHULLIKATT Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See First Committee
of the 68th session of the General Assembly Item 99: “General and Complete
Disarmament”
Mr Chairman, The First Committee meets this year at a moment
of extraordinary opportunity. In the past few weeks, we have seen vivid action taken
in the long struggle to rid the world of chemical and nuclear weapons. The recent
UN Security Council’s unanimous resolution on Syria’s chemical weapons has historic
importance. However, in that regard the Secretary General noted: “a red light for
one form of weapons did not mean a green light for others”. He therefore called for
a complete stop to all violence and for all weapons to be silenced. Another hopeful
opportunity that has presented itself is the day-long unprecedented High-level Meeting
on Nuclear Disarmament in the General Assembly on September 26. From nearly every
corner of the world -- Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America – Heads of State and Government
and other high officials called for action to begin comprehensive negotiations to
ban all nuclear weapons. It was impressive to see such an outcry of concern at what
is aptly called the “catastrophic humanitarian consequences” of the use of nuclear
weapons. The willingness of the world as a whole to move forward in a constructive
manner to eliminate nuclear weapons has never been more evident. Yet a very small
number of States stand in the way, trying to block progress and to find a comprehensive
solution to the problem that goes on year after year in paralysis and obfuscation.
It was clear at the High-level Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament that States around the
world want to see the implementation of the 2010 decision of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty Review Conference to convene a meeting to develop a zone free of nuclear and
other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
The progress made in
the Syrian conflict and the prospect of a political solution on the horizon set the
stage for the holding of the Middle East conference. This process dates back to
1995 when the NPT Review and Extension Conference adopted a resolution to address
all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. The failure of the international
community to fulfill that promise has jeopardized the credibility of the NPT and the
future of that region. With the 2015 NPT Review Conference quickly approaching, it
is imperative that steps be taken to set a firm date for the holding of the conference.
It is sadly ironic that States vociferous in their condemnation of chemical weapons
are silent on the continued possession of nuclear weapons. The international community
must appeal and act with one voice to ban all weapons of mass destruction.
The prospects for the cooperation of all States on a new agenda for peace have suddenly
taken an upturn. This work requires the continued advocacy and cooperation of all.
A better world awaits us if we reduce the excessively high military spending and if
we set aside part of military expenditures for a world fund to relieve the needs of
developing and least developed nations. This committee, dedicated to reducing armaments
worldwide must always be conscious of the true needs for achieving sustainable international
peace and security. We must end myopic militarism and concentrate on the long-range
needs of the human family.
Mr Chairman,
As the Holy See stated
at the recent High-level Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament, “[I]t is time to counter
the logic of fear with the ethic of responsibility, fostering a climate of trust and
sincere dialogue, capable of promoting a culture of peace, founded on the primacy
of law and the common good, through a coherent and responsible cooperation between
all members of the international community.”
Our world has never been so interdependent
and interconnected; now more than ever we cannot risk falling into a “globalization
of indifference”. It is illusory to think that the security and peace of some
can be assured without the security and peace of others. In an age like ours which
is undergoing profound social and geopolitical shifts, awareness has been growing
that national security interests are deeply linked to those related to international
security, just as the human family moves gradually together and everywhere is becoming
more conscious of its unity and interdependency. Peace, security and stability
cannot be gained strictly by military means, nor by increasing military spending,
since these are multidimensional objectives which include aspects that are not linked
only to the political and military sphere, but also to those of human rights, the
rule of law, economic and social conditions, and the protection of the environment.
These are things which have as their principal purpose the promotion of a true, integral
human development, where wisdom, reason and the force of law must prevail over violence,
aggression and the law of force. Peace is an edifice in continual construction
which lays its foundations not so much in force as in trust, confidence-building,
on respect for obligations assumed and on dialogue. Without these fundamental elements
one places at risk not solely peace, but also the very existence of the human family.
The field of disarmament and arms control constantly demands the use of our wisdom
and good will.