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bananas

(27,509 posts)
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 04:46 AM Mar 2014

Federal government worked to scuttle New Zealand statement against nuclear weapons

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

The federal government led secret diplomatic efforts to frustrate a New Zealand-led push for nuclear disarmament, according to documents released under freedom of information laws.

Declassified ministerial submissions, cables and emails from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade show Australian diplomats worked energetically against nuclear disarmament efforts by other countries, because ''we rely on US nuclear forces to deter nuclear attack on Australia''.

In October last year, following the election of the Coalition government, Australia refused a New Zealand request to endorse a 125-nation joint statement at the United Nations highlighting the humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons.

<snip>

This diplomatic campaign is intended to lay the ground for negotiation of a convention that would prohibit nuclear weapons - putting them in the same category as chemical and biological weapons which are already prohibited under international law.

<snip>

Australia's diplomacy suffered a blow when Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida agreed that Japan would sign the New Zealand-led statement. Australian diplomats consulted closely with the US State Department. Email exchanges between Australian diplomats reveal Washington reprimanded Tokyo over its decision.

Anti-nuclear campaigners labelled Australia's intervention a ''weasel statement … a last-minute rival announcement … seemingly in an effort to undermine the efforts of pro-ban activists''.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/federal-government-worked-to-scuttle-new-zealand-statement-against-nuclear-weapons-20140309-34fe8.html

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Federal government worked to scuttle New Zealand statement against nuclear weapons (Original Post) bananas Mar 2014 OP
Abbot govt 'blocked nuclear disarmament push' from NZ bananas Mar 2014 #1
This is rather disturbing with Austrialia Ichingcarpenter Mar 2014 #2
Another reason to outlaw secrecy. nt bemildred Mar 2014 #3

bananas

(27,509 posts)
1. Abbot govt 'blocked nuclear disarmament push' from NZ
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 05:33 AM
Mar 2014
http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/abbot-govt-blocked-nuclear-disarmament-push-nz-5861827

Abbot govt 'blocked nuclear disarmament push' from NZ

Published: 12:47PM Monday March 10, 2014 Source: AAP

The Abbott government led secret diplomatic efforts to frustrate a New Zealand-sponsored push for nuclear disarmament because of Australia's reliance on the United States' arsenal to deter a possible attack.

Citing documents released under freedom of information laws, Fairfax Media reports that Australia refused a request in October to endorse a 125-nation joint statement at the United Nations highlighting the humanitarian consequences of using nuclear weapons.

Australia objected to the assertion that nuclear weapons should ever again be used "under any circumstances", the paper says.

A now declassified Foreign Affairs and Trade department submission endorsed by Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop in October said a nuclear weapons ban "conflicts with Australia's long-standing position that, as long as a nuclear weapons threat exists, we rely on US nuclear forces to deter nuclear attack on Australia".

<snip>

Ichingcarpenter

(36,988 posts)
2. This is rather disturbing with Austrialia
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 06:42 AM
Mar 2014

The US history on this story
U.S. policy on nuclear disarmament is at best a mixed bag; that of the other eight nuclear armed powers is not much better.

Let us begin by adding up the pluses and the minuses of nuclear disarmament.

On the plus side, we have a president of the United States, which is central to the problem, who has spoken out repeatedly on the subject, albeit in a decelerating mode. In a speech at Purdue University on Jun. 16, 2008, he said, "It's time to send a clear message to the world: America seeks a world without nuclear weapons ... we'll make the goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons a central element in our nuclear policy."

There was no reference to how long it might take. A year later, in the famous Prague speech of May 6, 2009, Obama said, "I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons," but he added, "This goal will not be reached quickly -- perhaps not in my lifetime."

He was 48 at the time. Four years later, on Jun. 19, 2013, in Berlin, Obama said, "Peace with justice means pursuing the security of a world without nuclear weapons -- no matter how distant that dream may be."

In all fairness, the trajectory to abolition announced in Prague has either been implemented or blocked through no fault of the president: A substantial reduction in nuclear arms has been negotiated with Russia and the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. security strategy has been lessened.

The ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the negotiation of a Fissile Materials Treaty, both of which the Obama administration favors, have been held up, one by the U.S. Senate, the other by another country.

much more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-weiss/nuclear-disarmament_b_4905377.html

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