U.N. nuncio calls for re-examining strategy of nuclear deterrence

Published: 2005-05-05

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) -- The Vatican nuncio to the United Nations called May 4 for the international community to "re-examine the whole strategy of nuclear deterrence." "When the Holy See expressed its limited acceptance of nuclear deterrence during the Cold War, it was with the clearly stated condition that deterrence was only a step on the way toward progressive nuclear disarmament," said Archbishop Celestino Migliore. "The Holy See has never countenanced nuclear deterrence as a permanent measure, nor does it today when it is evident that nuclear deterrence drives the development of ever newer nuclear arms, thus preventing genuine nuclear disarmament," he said. The nuncio made his appeal in an address to a conference being held at U.N. headquarters in New York May 2-27 to review implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

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