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IPPNW Switzerland cordially invite you to attend a symposium, which will take place this spring, from March 22nd to 25th on beautiful Monte Verità, above Locarno inßhe Southern Swiss Canton of Ticino. The general topic will be the „Growing nuclearisation of the world“. Specifically we want to discuss, if the time has come to promote Nuclear Weapon Free Zones in Europe and the Middle East, if the IAEA should be strengthened in the control function and mutual respect in political negotiations. In the past, in (not so) diplomatic exchanges, substantial mistakes were made by powerful countries critical of other proud nations with a long history. Mistakes based on misconceptions, mistrust and lack of respect. On the other hand certain principles, which govern the peaceful coexistence of nations have not been respected by local powers. Hatred here and there, posturing and menaces today increase the chance for military attacks, not only in the Middle East but also on the Korean Peninsula. As predicted, unfortunately global horizontal proliferation has increased the risk for deployment of nuclear weapons. As physicians we have to say: In case of a nuclear war: we cannot help. Prevention of a nuclear war is the only way. IPPNW in the past has received the Nobel peace prize for successful mediation between the former Sowjet Union and the Western nations. It is hoped, that discussions during the planned symposium again will contribute to a better mutual understanding of the problems. Furthermore we do expect, that the realistic goals of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones in Europe and the Middle East can be defined and necessary political measures and next steps towards such zones be talked about. In this context we consider it a high priority, to discuss openly, honestly and with respect for cultural differences between the participants. Speakers experienced in international diplomacy and knowledgable of the political and security issues in the Middle East and Europe will be present on Friday and Saturday. It is intended to summarize the proceedings of the symposium and make concrete proposals directed to the political decision makers in Europe and the Middle East or other rational citizen in these regions. We hope to attract people interested in debating the issues of countering nuclear proliferation and of promoting security in a future world without nuclear weapons. We all need to advance the ever so necessary peacework in the Middle East. Dr. med. Günter Baitsch, Prof. Dr. med. A. Nidecker, Dr. med. Claudio Knüsli
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Download the talks as PDF now! Andreas Friedrich Alyn Ware Bruno Pellaud Claudio Knüsli Gert G. Harigel Gunnar Westberg Harald Müller
Ian R Kenyon Jochen Bittner Margret Johannnsen Saideh Lotfian Seyed Hossein Mousavian Werner van Gent
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>> Version zum Drucken (pop-up) Nuclearisation in Europe and the Middle East – From threat to preventive action - Concluding Statement Avoiding another war in Iran - a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle East - Nuclear weapon free zone in Europe - Strengthening the NPT Upon invitation of the Swiss chapter of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW, Nobel peace prize 1985), an international conference on the topic of “Nuclearisation in Europe and the Middle East” took place on Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland from March 22nd to 25th 2007. In a time of high international tension in the Middle East, participants focused on the absolute necessity for high-level constructive dialogue between all the parties. Respect for mutual fears as well as the overcoming of misunderstandings due to cultural and historical differences should inherently be part of such dialogue. It is feared that threatening arguments on both sides could lead to escalation. A preemptive strike policy and the use of military force however, would have catastrophic consequences for the local population. Moreover, it would have serious political repercussions, promote nuclear proliferation and further destabilise the entire region. The world needs a stable Iran, just as Iran needs cooperation with the rest of the international community. One feasible way to stabilise the region would be the establishment of a nuclear weapon free zone (NWFZ), an idea proposed by Iran and Egypt in 1974 and discussed repeatedly and promoted in the United Nations and Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conferences. It was noted that a single leading country, even a single city could stimulate a NWFZ in the Middle East. In order to guarantee that the nuclear weapons states respect the provisions of the NWFZ, consultations are required. Even if only a symbolic act initially, it could bring about a new situation and break the political deadlock. Obviously, such a zone must eventually cover the entire Middle East. NATO`s nuclear doctrine includes optional first use of nuclear weapons and their stationing in European non-nuclear weapon states. This doctrine was questioned, as it is based on a strategic concept which may be detrimental to European security. It is considered that nuclear weapons on European territory nowadays cannot be justified. In the interest of new thinking on security in Europe and a doctrine change, the voice of Non Nuclear Weapon states (NNWS) of the NATO alliance should be heard more often, and public opposition to nuclear weapons respected. A NWFZ in Europe would be a significant step towards a nuclear weapon free world. Finally, participants discussed the ever important role of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its verification functions. The danger of a further erosion of the NPT, due to the worrisome absence of progress in nuclear disarmament by non-fulfillment of the nuclear weapon states obligations with article VI, was emphasised. The NNWS should play a stronger role in the implementation and evolution of the NPT, particularly prior to the next review conference in 2010. In this context, discussions between representatives of the NNWS, IPPNW, the Inter- national Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA) and the International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation (INESAP) were proposed. Ascona, march 24th 2007 Signed by Andreas Nidecker, Professor of Radiology, Basel, Switzerland Günter Baitsch, Internal Medicine, Basel, Switzerland Martin Walter, Internal Medicine, Grenchen, Switzerland Arthur Muhl, Chiropractor, Au, Switzerland Urs Peter Frey, General Medicine, St. Gallen, Switzerland Claudio Knüsli, Basel, President PSR/IPPNW Switzerland Cornelia Hesse-Honegger, Artist, Switzerland Saideh Lotfian, Professor of Law, Tehran, Iran Ronnee Jaeger, Bat Shalom, Israel Gunnar Westberg Co-President IPPNW, Sweden Esther R. Suter, Pastor, Switzerland Trygve Berge, medical student / Editor IPPNW Norway Magazine Margret Johannsen, Peace Researcher, Hamburg, Germany Frida Sundberg, President SLMK (IPPNW Sweden), Sweden Klas Lundius, Director SLMK (IPPNW Sweden), Sweden Herman Spanjaard, Former Vice President Europe IPPNW, Netherlands Alyn Ware, Global Coordinator, Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament, New Zealand Marianne Baitsch, Nurse, Switzerland Mina Ennasri, Psychotherapeute Etudiante, IPPNW France André Michel, Medical Student, MedAction Ireland, Dublin, Ireland Marcela Fejgl, Pathologist, Sion, Switzerland Gert Harigel, Senior Physicist emerit. CERN, Geneva, Switzerland Nuclearisation in Europe and the Middle East – From threat to Monte Verità,Ascona,Switzerland,March 22–25,2007 16.00 – 18.00 Arrival followed by informal get together Morning Session 08.00 Registration 08.30 Welcome by Dr. Claudio Knüsli, President PSR / IPPNW Switzerland 09.15 09.45 10.15 10.45 Coffee 11.15 11.45 12.30 Lunch Afternoon Session 14.00 Dr. Hossein Mousavian : Security by NW in the Middle East? Reducing 14.30 Prof. Dr. Albert A. Stahel : Strategic conceptions behind the nuclear 15.00 Alyn Ware :Overview of NWFZ. 15.20 Dr. Ime John : How the African continent became a NWFZ 15.40 Ian Kenyon/ Dr. Mustafa Alani : A Nuclear Weapon 16.10 Discussion of the three papers 16.40 Coffee 17.00 Prof. Dr. Harald Müller : Security by NW in Europe. Is the NATO 17.30 Bascha Mika : Nuclear Weapons in the media. 19.00 Dinner/ Cultural Programme Morning Session 09.00 - 12.00 09.00 09.30 10.00 Dr. Bruno Pellaud : The challenge: the civilian and the military 10.30 Coffee 11.00 Sergey Batsanov : UN – WHO – IAEA : are new treaties needed? 11.30 M.D.Shariar Khateri : Chemical and Biological weapons in the Middle East: 12.00 Dr. Gert Harigel: Depleted Uranium 12.30 Lunch Afternoon Session 14.15 -18.45 14.15 More respect, how can it be reached? 15.15 From local to regional NWFZ to a better NPT. 16.15 Coffee 16.45 The future of the IAEA. - NPT 2010 17.45 Summary : Lotfian, Mika, Nidecker 19.30 Dinner 09.00 Task group :Action Plan Baitsch, Günter, Dr. med., PSR / IPPNW Switzerland, Pfaffenlohweg 21, Knüsli, Claudio, Dr. med., PSR / IPPNW Switzerland, Gotthardstrasse 112, Nidecker,Andreas, Prof. Dr. med., PSR / IPPNW Switzerland, Ob. Rheinweg Alani, Mustafa, Dr., Senior Adviser & Program Director, Gulf Research Batsanov, Sergey, Director, Geneva Office Pugwash Conferences on Bittner, Jochen, Dr., Political Editor, die Zeit, 20095 Hamburg, Friedrich, Andreas, Minister, Head Arms Control and Disarmament Harigel, Gert G., Dr., Senior physicist emeritus, CERN, PH-Division, Jaeger, Ronnie, Bat Shalom,The Jerusalem Women’s Action Center, King Johannsen, Margret, Dr., Senior Fellow, Institute for Peace Research and John, Ime A., MD, MPH, Co-President IPPNW, Department of Public Health Khateri, Shariar, M.D., Society for chemical weapons victims support Kenyon, Ian, Mountbatten, Centre for international studies, Departement PSR / IPPNW Schweiz, Klosterberg 23, 4051 Basel, Switzerland Günter Baitsch, Phone / Fax ++41 61 271 50 25, baitsch@magnet.ch Monte Verità, Ascona, Italian Part of Switzerland
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International Congress Nuclearisation in Europe and the Middle East – From Threat to Preventive Action NEW Summaries of presentation: Download the talks as PDF now! » Program (updated 25.02.07)
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