Canada's largest coalition of peace organizations calls on Government of Canada to "declare its objection" to NMD
Canada's largest coalition of peace organizations calls on Government of Canada to "declare its objection" to NMD
February 23, 2001 - For immediate release
Toronto – Canada's largest umbrella peace organization today released a statement calling on the Government of Canada to ask the government of the United States not to proceed with its plans for National Missile Defense (NMD).
"At recent meetings, Russian and Chinese leaders have asked Prime Minister Jean Chretien to take a leadership role in convincing the Government of the United States that NMD is a dangerous, inappropriate response to security threats," said Carolyn Bassett, Coordinator of the Canadian Peace Alliance (CPA). "The longer the Government of Canada refuses to play such a role, the more our international credibility as a country committed to non-proliferation, arms control and nuclear disarmament will suffer."
The Chretien government's position on National Missile Defence remains that it has no position. "Now that Bush’s intentions are clearly 'full steam ahead'," CPA Co-Chair Judith Berlyn countered, "it's time for Canada to take a stand and say a resounding NO! to NMD."
The Canadian Peace Alliance position statement on National Missile Defence calls on the Government of Canada to "declare its objection to the US National Missile Defence program (regardless of whether or not it is asked to participate) and to oppose the weaponisation of space in any form."
It continues: "NMD is part of a United States plan to dominate space by 'integrating Space Forces into warfighting capabilities' (as outlined in United States Space Command document 'Vision for 2020'). It is a step towards the deployment of weapons in space, which will create uncertainty and distrust, destabilize international relations and lead to a new nuclear arms race."
The CPA statement highlights the threat posed by NMD to important arms control treaties including the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). An Angus Reid poll commissioned by the CPA in 1998 found that 93% of Canadians supported Canada taking a leadership role in global negotiations to abolish nuclear weapons.
The Canadian Peace Alliance joins a growing chorus of critics of Canada's refusal to oppose National Missile Defence. Last week, the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, of which the CPA is a member, called on the Government of Canada to show leadership on the issue.
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More information on National Missile Defence and the 1998 Angus Reid poll on Canada attitudes towards nuclear disarmament is available on the Canadian Peace Alliance web site, <www.acp-cpa.ca>.
Contact Carolyn Bassett, Coordinator of the Canadian Peace Alliance, (416) 588-5555 or (416) 577-2499 or <cpa@web.ca>.
Canadian Peace Alliance statement on National Missile Defence
National Missile Defence (NMD) is a unilateral initiative of the United States that no other major country supports. The Canadian Peace Alliance urges the Government of Canada to declare its objection to the US National Missile Defence program (regardless of whether or not it is asked to participate) and to oppose the weaponisation of space in any form.
NMD is part of a United States plan to dominate space by "integrating Space Forces into warfighting capabilities" (as outlined in United States Space Command document "Vision for 2020"). It is a step towards the deployment of weapons in space, which will create uncertainty and distrust, destabilize international relations and lead to a new nuclear arms race.
NMD violates the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, signed by the United States, and runs counter to Canada’s commitment as a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to promote complete nuclear disarmament. These treaties are cornerstones of the international non-proliferation; arms control and disarmament regimes long supported by Canada.
The Canadian Peace Alliance further calls on the Government of Canada to play a leadership role in banning nuclear weapons and missile flight tests.
February 23, 2001