Vatican says world must use diplomacy to stop nuclear proliferation

Published: 2007-10-18

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) -- The international community must use diplomacy, not armed intervention, to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons, said the Vatican's representative to the United Nations. "Belligerence by anyone would only worsen a delicate situation and could inadvertently lead to conflagration with immense additional suffering on a humanity already overburdened with the ravages of war," said Archbishop Celestino Migliore. The archbishop spoke Oct. 16 at a U.N. meeting on disarmament and international security. His remarks were made one day before U.S. President George W. Bush said he does not believe the claims of Iran's government that it is developing nuclear technology to produce electricity. "I believe they want to have the capacity, the knowledge, in order to make a nuclear weapon," Bush said at an Oct. 17 White House press conference. "And I know it's in the world's interest to prevent them from doing so," he said.

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