COUNTERPLAN/NUCLEAR ABOLITION

SOLVENCY: INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RULING CREATES MOMENTUM FOR NUCLEAR ABOLITION

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RULING PUTS MOMENTUM ON THE SIDE OF NUCLEAR ABOLITION

David Krieger, President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. May 25, 2000 Ending the Nuclear Weapons Era http://www.peacenet.org/disarm/ //VT2002acsln

The decision of the Court will have far-reaching effects for the future of nuclear weapons and for the future of humanity. The opinion that the threat or use of nuclear weapons is generally illegal under international law gives strong support to the advocates of a nuclear weapons free world and puts the governments of the nuclear weapons states under increased pressure to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE HAS RULED THAT ALL NATIONS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT NUCLEAR ELIMINATION

The Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 1996 http://www.dfat.gov.au/cc/cc_report_exec.html //VT2002acsln

The Commission noted with satisfaction the response of the International Court of Justice made in July 1996 to a request from the General Assembly of the United Nations for an advisory opinion on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons. The Court's statement that there existed an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control is precisely the obligation that the Commission wishes to see implemented.