Vatican calls for wider definition of Weapons of Mass
Destruction
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican
has called on the international community to expand the definition of a ‘weapon
of mass destruction’ to include “devastatingly powerful conventional weapons
used to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
“Conventional weapons are
becoming less and less ‘conventional’ as technological advances elevate their
power to destroy to the level of weapons of mass destruction,” said Archbishop
Bernardito Auza, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.
The Vatican diplomat was
speaking on Tuesday during a Security Council Open Debate on non-proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction.
“For this reason, the Holy
See recommends that discussions on weapons of mass destruction go beyond the
traditional categories of nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological
weapons to include devastatingly powerful conventional weapons,” he continued.
“Military forces, rebels,
terrorists and extremist groups use with greater frequency ever more
powerful conventional weapons, showing scant regard for civilian immunity,
discrimination, or proportionality,” Archbishop Auza said.
“The tens of millions of
refugees and displaced persons send an important message to this Chamber
today,” – the Archbishop said – “We must flee or die as our cities and
communities are entirely devastated, not by nuclear, chemical or biological
weapons, but by powerful conventional weapons.
The full text of the
speech by Archbishop Auza is below
Statement of H.E. Archbishop
Bernardito Auza
Apostolic Nuncio and
Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
Security Council Open Debate
on
Non-proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction
23 August 2016
Mr. President,
The Holy See commends the
Presidency of Malaysia for bringing this topic to the attention of this Chamber
and the entire International Community.
At the very outset, my
delegation wishes to reiterate the Holy See’s constant and firm opposition to
the production and use of weapons of mass destruction. Any act, any weapon
that aims indiscriminately to destroy entire cities or extensive areas,
together with their inhabitants, is against all international
humanitarian law and merits unequivocal and unhesitating condemnation.
Mr. President,
While treaties and
conventions have been reached to ban chemical and biological weapons and
prevent the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, human genius continues to
invent new ways of annihilating itself. For instance, conventional weapons are
becoming less and less “conventional” as technological advances elevate their
power to destroy to the level of weapons of mass destruction.
For this reason, the Holy See
recommends that discussions on weapons of mass destruction go beyond the
traditional categories of nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological
weapons to include devastatingly powerful conventional weapons used to
perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity. Military
forces, rebels, terrorists and extremist groups use with greater frequency
ever more powerful conventional weapons, showing scant regard for civilian
immunity, discrimination, or proportionality.
Indeed, humanitarian
disasters that continue to unfold in real time before our very own eyes show us
that schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure are blown up by the
incessant use of powerful conventional weapons. The tens of millions of
refugees and displaced persons send an important message to this Chamber
today: We must flee or die as our cities and communities are entirely
devastated, not by nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, but by powerful
conventional weapons. These tragedies appeal to the international community to
implement strictly all legally binding treaties and instruments on the
prohibition and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and urgently
to review existing classifications and definitions of what constitutes a weapon
of mass destruction.
Mr. President,
In this very Chamber and in
other fora, the Holy See has repeatedly called on the weapon producing nations
of the world to severely limit and control the manufacture and sale of weapons
to unstable countries and regions of the world, where the likelihood of their
illegal use and their falling into the hands of non-state actors is real and
present. The proliferation of weapons, regardless of whether they are
conventional or of mass destruction, simply aggravates situations of conflict
and results in huge human and material costs, profoundly undermining
development and the search for lasting peace. Indeed, non-proliferation, arms
control and disarmament underpin global security and sustainable development.
Without them, the achievement of the much-vaunted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development will be seriously jeopardized.
Mr. President,
Double standards in the
implementation of treaties and conventions on the prohibition and the
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction can only encourage disregard
for the very same treaties and conventions on the part of those who are
aggrieved or discriminated against. The discrimination between countries with
and countries without weapons of mass destruction cannot be a permanent
situation. If it is unthinkable to imagine a world where weapons of mass
destruction are available to all, it is reasonable to imagine, and to
work collectively for, a world where nobody has them. The international
community must thus appeal and act with one voice to ban all weapons of mass
destruction. This objective requires the continued advocacy and cooperation of all,
because much remains to be done to achieve it.
Mr. President,
There is no doubt that every
step towards banning weapons of mass destruction is a giant step towards
achieving a better world.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét