Vatican's U.N. nuncio appeals for curb on 'excesses of weaponry'

Published: 2003-10-09

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) -- The Vatican nuncio to the United Nations appealed Oct. 8 for action to "curb the excesses of weaponry" as a way of building "the conditions of peace." Archbishop Celestino Migliore said the nuclear weapons policy known as "mutual assured destruction" should have ended with the Cold War, but has instead "shown a certain resurgence." Addressing the committee of the U.N. General Assembly that deals with disarmament, he said recent trends had brought a weakening of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and of "multilateral efforts for disarmament." He said, "By exploiting certain loopholes" in the treaty "and engaging in covert proliferation activities, some states are once again banking their security on the possession and threatened use of nuclear weapons. These steps should be alarming to everyone." The nuncio also said chemical and biological weapons presented problems, and could be "sold and transported without detection."

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .