Through our variety of responsibilities and experiences with
weapons and wars in the armed forces of nay nations, we have
acquired an intimate and perhaps unique knowledge of the present
security and insecurity of our countries and peoples.
We know that nuclear weapons, though never used since Hiroshima
and Nagasaki, represent a clear and present danger to the very
existence of humanity. There was an immense risk of a superpower
holocaust during the Cold War. At least once, civilization was on
the very brink of catastrophic tragedy. That threat has now
receded, but not forever -- unless nuclear weapons are
eliminated.
The end of the Cold War created conditions favourable to nuclear
disarmament. Termination of military confrontation between the
Soviet Union and the Unite States made it possible to reduce
strategic and tactical nuclear weapons, and to eliminate
intermediate range missiles. It was a significant milestone on
the path to nuclear disarmament when Belarus, Kazakhastan and
Ukraine relinquished their nuclear weapons.
Indefinite extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in
1995 and approval of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty by the UN
General Assembly in 1996 are also important steps towards a
nuclear-free world. We commend the work that has been done to
achieve these results.
Unfortunately, in spite of these positive steps, true nuclear
disarmament has not been achieved. Treaties provide that only
delivery systems, not nuclear warheads, will be destroyed. This
permits the United States and Russia to keep their warheads in
reserve storage, thus creating a "reversible nuclear potential."
However, in the post-Cold War security environment, the most
commonly postulated nuclear threats are not susceptible to
deterrence or are simply not credible. We believe, therefore,
that business as usual is not an acceptable way for the world to
proceed in nuclear matters.
It is our deep conviction that the following is urgently needed
and must be undertaken now:
First, present and planned stockpiles of nuclear weapons are exceedingly large and should now be greatly cut back;
Second, remaining nuclear weapons should be gradually and transparently taken off alert, and their readiness substantially reduced both in nuclear weapons states and in de facto nuclear weapons states;
Third, long-term international nuclear policy must be based on the declared principle of continuous, complete and irrevocable elimination of nuclear weapons.
The United States and Russia should -- without any reduction in
their military security -- carry forward the reduction process
already launched by START - they should cut down to 1000 to 1500
warheads each and possibly lower. The other three nuclear states
and the three threshold states should be drawn into the reduction
process as still deeper reductions are negotiated down to the
level of hundreds. There is nothing incompatible between defence
by individual countries of their territorial integrity and
progress toward nuclear abolition.
The exact circumstances and conditions that will make it possible
to proceed, finally, to abolition cannot now be foreseen or
prescribed. One obvious prerequisite would be a world-wide program
or surveillance and inspection, including measures to account for
and control inventories of nuclear weapons materials. This
will ensure that no rogues or terrorists could undertake a
surreptitious effort to acquire nuclear capacities without
detection at an early stage. An agreed procedure for forcible
international intervention and interruption of covert efforts in
a certain and timely fashion is essential.
The creation of nuclear-free zones in different parts of the world, confidence-building and transparency measures in the general field of defence, strict implementation of all treaties in the area of disarmament and arms control, and mutual assistance in the process of disarmament are also important in helping to bring about a nuclear-free world. The development of regional systems of collective security, including practical measures for cooperation, partnership, interaction and communication are essential for local stability and security.
The extent to which the existence of nuclear weapons and fear of
their use may have deterred war -- in a world that in this year
alone has seen 30 military conflicts raging -- cannot be
determined. It is clear, however, that nations now possessing
nuclear weapons will not relinquish them until they are convinced
that more reliable and less dangerous means of providing for
their security are in place. It is also clear, as a consequence,
that the nuclear powers will not now agree to a fixed timetable
for the achievement of abolition.
It is similarly clear that, among the nations not now possessing
nuclear weapons, there are some that will not forever forswear
their acquisition and deployment unless they, too, are provided
means of security. Nor will they forego acquisition it the
present nuclear powers seek to retain everlastingly their nuclear
monopoly.
Movement toward abolition must be a responsibility shared
primarily by the declared nuclear weapons states -- China,
France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, by the
de facto nuclear states, India, Israel and Pakistan; and by major
non-nuclear powers such as Germany and Japan. All nations should
move in concert toward the same goal.
We have been presented with a challenge of the highest possible
historic importance: the creation of a nuclear-weapons-free
world. The end of the Cold War makes it possible.
The dangers of proliferation, terrorism, and new nuclear arms
race render it necessary. We must not fail to seize our
opportunity. There is no alternative.
Signed,
CANADA
Johnson, Major General V., (Ret.)
Commandant, National Defense College
DENMARK
Kristensen, Lt. General Gunnar (Ret.)
former Chief of Defense Staff
FRANCE
Sanguinetti, Admiral Antoine (Ret.)
former Chief of Staff, French Fleet
GHANA
Erskine, General Emmanuel (Ret.)
former Commander in Chief and former Chief of Staff,
UNTSO (Middle East),
Commander UMFI (Lebanon)
GREECE
Capellos, Lt. General Richard (Ret.)
former Corps Commander
Konstantinides, Major General Kostas (Ret.)
former Chief of Staff, Army Signals
INDIA
Rikhye, Major General Indar Jit (Ret.)
former military advisor to UN Secretary General Dag Akmmerskjold
and U Thant
Surt, Air Marshal N. C. (Ret.)
JAPAN
Sakoijo, Vice Admiral Naotoshi (Ret.)
Sr. Advisor, Research Institute for Peace and Security
Shikata, Lt. General Toshiyuki (Ret.)
Sr. Advisor Research Institue for Peace and Security
JORDAN
Ajelilat, Major General Sahfiq (Ret.)
Vice President Military Affairs, Muta University
Shiyyab, Major General Mohammed K. (Ret.)
former Deputy Commander, Royal Jordanian Air force
NETHERLANDS
van der Graaf, Henry J. (Ret.)
Director Centre Arms Control & Verification,
Member, United National Advisory Board for Disarmament Matters
NORWAY
Breivik, Roy, Vice Admiral Roy (Ret.)
former Representative to NATO, Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic
PAKISTAN
Malik, Major General Ihusun ul Haq (Ret.)
Commandant Joint Services Committee
PORTUGAL
Gomes, Marshal Francisco da Costa (Ret.)
former Commander in Chief, Army
former Pesident of Portugal
RUSSIA
Belous, General Vladimir (Ret.)
Department Chief, Dzerzhinsky Militay Academy
Garecy, Army General Makhmut (Ret.)
former Deputy Chief, USSR Armed Forces General Staff
Gromov, General Boris, (Ret.)
Vice Chair, Duma International Affairs Committee,
former Commander of 40th Soviet Army in Afghanistan
former Deputy Minister, Foreign Ministry, Russia
Koltounov, Major General Victor (Ret.)
former Deputy Chief, Department of General Staff, USSR Armed Forces
Larinov, Major General Valentin (Ret.)
Professor, General Staff Academy
Lebed, Major Alexander (Ret.)
former Secretary of the Security Coucil
Lebedev, Major General Youri V. (Ret.)
former Deputy Chief Department of General Staff, USSR Armed Forces
Makarevsky, Major General Vadim (Ret.)
Deputy Chief, Komibyshev Engineering Academy
Medvodov, Lt. General Vladimir (Ret.)
Chief, Center of Nuclear Threat Reduction
Mikhailov, Colonel General Gregory (Ret.)
former Deputy Chief, Deparment of General Staff, USSR Armed Forces
Nozhin, Major General Eugeny (Ret.)
former Deputy Chief, Department of General Staff, USSR Armed Forces
Rokhilin, Lt. General Lev, (Ret.)
Chair, Duma Defense Committee, former Commander Russian 4th Army
Corps
Sleport, Lt. General Ivn (Ret.)
former Chief, Department of General Staff, USSR Armed Forces
Simonyan, Major General Rair (Ret.)
Head of Chair, General Staff Academy
Surikov, General Boris T.,(Ret.)
former Chief Specialist, Defense Ministry
Teherov, Colonel General Nikolay (Ret.)
former Chief, Department of General Staff, USSR Armed Forces
Vinogadov, Lt. General Michael S. (Ret.)
former Deputy Chief, Operational Strategic Center, USSR General Staff
Zoubkov, Rear Admiral Radiy (Ret.)
Chief, Navigation, USSR Navy
SRI LANKA
Karumaratne, Major General Upali A. (Ret.)
Silva, Major General C.A.M.M. (Ret.) USF, U.S.A.
TANZANIA
Lupogo, Major Gneral H.C. (Ret.)
former Chief Inspector General, Tanzania Armed Forces
UNITED KINGDOM
Beach, General Sir Hugh (Ret.)
Member U.K. Security Commission
Carver, Field Marshal Lord Michael (Ret.)
Commander in Chief of East British Army (1967-1969),
Chief of General Staff (1971-1973)
Chief of Defense Staff (1973-1976)
Harbottle, Brigadier Michael (Ret.)
former Chief of Staff, UN Peacekeping Force, Cyprus
Mackie, Air Commodore Alistair (Ret.)
former Director, Air Staff Briefing
UNITED STATES
Becton, Lt. General Julius (USA) (Ret.)
Burns, Maj. General William F. (USA) (Ret.)
JCS Representative, INF Negotiations (1981-88)
Special Envoy to Russia for Nuclear Dismantlmement (1992-93)
Carroll, Jr., Rear Admiral Eugene J. (USN) (Ret.)
Deputy Director, Center for Defense Information
Cushman, Lt. General John H. (USA) (Ret.)
Commander, I Corps (ROK/US) Group (Korea) (1976-78)
Galvin, Gneral John R.
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (1987-1992)
Gayler, Admiral Noel (USN) (Ret.)
former Commander, Pacific
Horner, General Charles A. (USAF) (Ret.)
Commander, Coalition Air Forces, Desert Storm (1991)
former Commander, U.S. Space Command
James, Rear Admiral Robert G. (USNR) (Ret.)
Odom,Gen. william E. (USA) (Ret.)
Director, National Security Studies, Hudson Institute
Deputy Assistant and Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (1981-1985)
Director, National Security Agency (1985-1988)
O'Meara, General Andrew (USA) (Ret.),
former Commander U.S. Army Euorpe
Pursley, Lt. General Robrt E. USAF (Ret.)
Read, Vice Admiral William L. (USN) (Ret.)
former Commander, U.S. Navy Surface Force, Atlantic Command
Rogers, General Bernard W. (USA) (Ret.)
former Chief of Staff, U.S. Army;
former NATO Supreme Allied Commander (1979-1987)
Seignious, II, Lt. Gneral George M. (USA) (Ret.)
fomer Director Army Control and Disarmament Agency
Shanahan, Vice Admiral John J. (USN) (Ret.)
Director, Center for Defense Information
Smith, General William Y., (USAF) (Ret.)
former Deputy Commander, U.S. Command, Europe
Wilson, Vice Admiral James B. (USN) (Ret.)
former Polaris Submarine Captain