On the occasion of the Conference “La sicurezza ha bisogno delle armi nucleari?” (Are nuclear weapons needed for security?), promoted by the “Network of Italian parliamentarians for non proliferation and nuclear disarmament” in collaboration with the Permanent Secretariat of Nobel Peace Laureates Summit, taking place at the Camera dei Deputati (Lower House of Parliament) on 25 March 2010, I wish to warmly welcome all conference participants.
I wish to express my admiration for the efforts being made to make the political world as well as public opinion aware of the issues of non proliferation and nuclear disarmament, also in view of the important international events coming up in 2010, first and foremost the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, which will be held in New York from 3 to 28 May.
With the end of the cold war the threat of a global nuclear war has receded considerably. Nevertheless, the number of States in possession of nuclear weapons has almost doubled, despite the signing of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970. This confirms the enormous relevance of the issues up for discussion, affecting the very future of mankind, and must drive us on to intensify international cooperation to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, firmly combating the initiatives of States that seek to come into possession of them.
The goal of offering future generations a world without nuclear weapons was discussed in a session of the Meeting of G8 Parliamentary Speakers in September 2008, held appropriately in Hiroshima and dedicated to the “Role of Parliaments in peace and disarmament efforts”. Governments’ interest in the question has been confirmed more recently by the L’Aquila Declaration on non proliferation, adopted during the G8 Summit in July 2009, which clearly expresses the commitment to “create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons”. We are therefore the witnesses of slow but significant progress, being made in particular thanks to the efforts of leading protagonists of the international scene.
On this question however, crucial for the future of all mankind, there must be a growing and shared awareness. It is my belief that Italy will continue to make an active contribution to achieving this goal, giving living and tangible testimony of the fundamental principle, etched into its Constitution, of rejecting “war as an instrument of aggression against the liberties of other peoples”. A serious raising of consciousness in this sphere may help to speed up the journey towards a world without nuclear weapons, one that is more peaceful, prosperous and safe.
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