This appeal in defence of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was initiated jointly on Hiroshima Day 2000 by SYNASPISMOS in Greece and the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation. It is being circulated for signature.
Despite the end of the Cold War, the nuclear threat has not been eliminated. The hopes of a steady course towards a nuclear-weapons-free world, which received a great boost after the signing and implementation of the treaty to abolish the 'euromissiles', have not been fulfilled.
On the contrary, the nuclear arsenals remain almost intact, and the danger of nuclear proliferation has increased. The 'first use' doctrine has been declared anew recently by both NATO and Russia, and the treaty for a total ban on nuclear tests has been blocked by the United States Senate. But even if nuclear weapons are not used on purpose, there are serious dangers of mistakes or accidents, as the Kursk tragedy dramatically reminded us.
In particular, we express deep concern about the planned violation or cancellation of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) systems by the US administration, which has decided to un-freeze its 'star wars' project.
We are strongly opposed to these plans and call upon the governments to Europe to resist them and support the UN General Assembly Resolution on the 'preservation of and compliance with the ABM', which states that this Treaty 'remains a cornerstone in maintaining global strategic stability and world peace in promoting further strategic nuclear arms reductions' (resolution 54/54A).
We urge the peoples of our countries and of the whole world to be on the alert and mobilize in defence of the ABM Treaty, and for the re-invigoration of the nuclear disarmament process that must lead to a nuclear-weapons-free world.
We call upon all the nuclear powers to renounce the 'first use' of nuclear weapons, and all the countries to ratify and abide by the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
At the dawn of the 21st Century, we declare with more determination: the only security from nuclear weapons lies in their abolition!