"We therefore call on the governments of each of the nuclear-weapon states and the three nuclear-weapons-capable states to commit themselves unequivocally to the elimination of their respective nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons capability and to agree to start work immediately on the practical steps and negotiations required for its achievement."
9 June 1998
Article 8
Issue
On June 9, eight nations called for the elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide. In a joint declaration of the New Agenda Coalition, the foreign ministers of Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Slovenia, South Africa and Sweden called on the rest of the world to move towards nuclear disarmament.
The New Agenda Coalition stated, "We can no longer remain complacent at the reluctance of the nuclear-weapon states and the three nuclear-weapons-capable states to take that fundamental and requisite step, namely a clear commitment to the speedy, final and total elimination of their nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons capability and we urge them to take that step now."
They also said, "The international community must not enter the third millennium with the prospect that the maintenance of these weapons will be considered legitimate for the indefinite future, when the present juncture provides a unique opportunity to eradicate and prohibit them for all time."
The New Agenda Coalition echoes the goal of Abolition 2000, a global network of some 1,100 citizen action groups calling for a treaty by the year 2000 for the phased elimination of nuclear weapons.
Background
India and Pakistan's testing of nuclear weapons has demonstrated that current policies towards nuclear weapons proliferation have failed. It has become increasingly clear that there must be an unequivocal commitment by the current nuclear weapons states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals. The New Agenda Coalition is a breakthrough in the move towards abolition of nuclear weapons. The hope is that more nations will now come forward and express their solidarity with the eight that have already spoken out. The persistent reluctance of the nuclear weapons states to honor their treaty obligations is now being challenged by world popular opinion as well as by governments of the New Agenda Coalition. As with the successful negotiations for the Landmine Treaty, citizen action can play a vital role in persuading politicians to make a commitment to creating a nuclear-weapons free world.
Action
We therefore suggest that you:
- Send a thank you message to the New Agenda Coalition; and
- Ask other countries to join the New Agenda Coalition.
Send Thanks ...
... to David Andrews, T.D., Foreign Minister of Ireland, and congratulate him for his courage and initiative in setting up the New Agenda Coalition.
U.S. Embassy of Ireland- 2234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 462-3939
Department of Foreign Affairs- 80 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2, Ireland
Telephone: +353-1-478-0822
Fax: +353-1-478-0593
E-mail form: www.irlgov.ie/iveagh/foreignaffairs/contact.html
Urge These Countries to Join the New Agenda Coalition
Australia-
U.S. Embassy of Australia- 1601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 797-3000
Fax: (202) 797-3168
Permanent UN Mission of Australia- 885 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 836-4100
Fax: (212) 836-4110
E-mail: australia@un.org
Minister of Foreign Affairs- The Honorable Alexander Downer, MP
Ministerial Office
Parliament House
Canberra
Telephone: 02 6277 7500
Fax: 02 6273 4112
E-mail: minister.downer@dfat.gov.au
Austria-
U.S. Embassy of Austria- 3524 International Court, NW
Washington, DC 20008-3035
Telephone: (202) 895-6700
Fax: (202) 895-6750
Minister of Foreign Affairs- Dr. Wolfgang Schnssel
E-mail: minister.bmaa@gov.austria-info.at
Canada-
U.S. Embassy of Canada- 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: (202) 682-1740
Fax: (202) 682-7726
Permanent UN Mission of Canada- 885 Second Avenue, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Telephone (212) 848-1100
Fax: (212) 848-1195
Germany-
U.S. Embassy of Germany- 4645 Reservoir Road, NW
Washington, DC 20007-1998
Telephone: (202) 298-4000
Fax: (202) 298-4249 or 333-2653
Permanent UN Mission of Germany- 600 Third Avenue, 41st Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (212) 856-6200
Fax: (212) 856-6280
E-mail: germany@un.org
German Foreign Minister- Klaus Kinkel
Fax: +49-228-17-3402
Japan-
U.S. Embassy of Japan- 2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 939-6700
Fax: (202) 328-2187
UN Permanent Mission of Japan- 866 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 223-4300
Fax: (212) 751-1966
Norway-
U.S. Royal Embassy of Norway- 2720 34th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 333-6000
Permanent UN Mission of Norway- 825 Third Avenue, 39th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: (212) 421-0280
Fax: (212) 688-0554
E-mail: norun@undp.org
Ukraine-
U.S. Embassy of Ukraine- 3350 M Street, NW
Suite 711
Washington, DC 20007
Telephone: (202) 333-0606
Fax: (202) 333-0817
For other embassies in the U.S.- www.embassy.org/embassies/index.html
For Foreign Affairs Departments of other European nations- europa.eu.int/en/gonline.html
To notify Nuclear Age Peace Foundation of your actions:- E-mail: wagingpeace@napf.org
