Government and Military

1/7/98

Dear [NATO Official]

Ref:- Illegality of Nuclear Weapons, Global Citizen’s Response with TP2000 and a request to all NATO Heads of State and Ministers to Stop Nuclear Crime.

On 18th March we sent the enclosed Open Letter to Tony Blair, P.M. of UK and copied it to other British Government Cabinet members and to the leading personnel in the UK Judiciary and Military establishments. We have since had a refusal to our request for a meeting and no substantive refutation of our claims that British Trident nuclear weapons are illegal in international law as well as being immoral, unsafe and inhumane. We have been given no evidence whatsoever that the use of Trident would not harm non-combatants, would not infringe neutral rights, would not contaminate the environment and would not harm the genetic health of future generations of humans and other species. It is our opinion that Trident warheads, if used, woud do all of these and that the present targeting pland and operations are in fact illegal as well as morally indefensible. As members of NATO you are also responsible for what is done in the name of NATO and we would urge you to do all in your power to persuade the British Government to disarm the Trident system by January 1st 2000. We would also urge you to get France and the USA to disarm similarly. We feel that NATO is acting against the interests of the global community in continuing to deploy weapons of mass destruction. As global citizens who reside in countries who belong to NATO we have decided to start the disarmament process ourselves and to encourage as many other global citizens to join us as is posssible. We would much rather not have to take this responsibility of upholding international law ourselves but see no alternative given the lack of responsible action by NATO leaders. We would like to take this opportunity of asking if we can meet with you for urgent discussions regarding the necessity to take immediate steps towards disarming nuclear weapons? You will see from the enclosed letter to P.M. Blair the background for this request to meet and the undertakings that we are urging the British Government to take. We have listed 9 visible and verifiable elements of a genuine commitment to de-nuclearisation. We would like to know what you will be able to do to support nuclear disarmament within NATO? We are concerned that the rule of international law is strengthened so that all global citizens can feel safe and protected rather than threatened with annihilation. The recent Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests have showed up the hypocrisy of the Five Nuclear Powers who expect other nations to do as they say rather than as they do. We ask you to respond urgently to the renewed threat of proliferation and the ever narrowing window of oportunity that was given to us with the ending of the Cold War. Now is the time to do everything you can to ensure that NATO disarms its weapons of mass destruction and evolves a legal, safe, humane and honourable system of real security for all. We would be glad to engage in dialogue with you and look forward to an early reponse to our request to meet. Yours sincerely,

Angie Zelter on behalf of Trident Ploughshares 2000.

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