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Canadian Senate Urges NATO Nuclear Weapons
Policy Review at Summit
14 April 1999
The Office of the Hon. Douglas Roche, member of the Canadian
Senate, issued the following press release on 14 April 1999.
It outlines a motion adopted unanimously by the Senate of
Canada, urging NATO to review the Alliance's nuclear weapons
policies at its Summit in Washington later this month. The
press release reads as follows:
On April 13, 1999, the Senate of Canada unanimously adopted
Motion No. 128, introduced by Senator Douglas Roche, without
a vote. The Motion states:
"That the Senate recommend that the Government of Canada
urge NATO to begin a review of its nuclear weapons policies
at the Summit Meeting of NATO on April 23 to 25, 1999."
In speaking during the debate on the Motion in the Senate
on March 23rd Senator Roche indicated that at the upcoming
NATO Summit three important documents will be presented: a
new Strategic Concept; a Communiqué that would present
NATO's policy agenda; and a vision statement on NATO's future
purpose and mission. Indisputably, "NATO is the greatest military
alliance in the history of the world and it is now about to
celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. Canada has consistently
made a great contribution over the years and thus it is perfectly
appropriate for Canada, as an important member of NATO, to
press for this review."
"The point at issue is that nuclear weapons in NATO have
lost their military value and are being kept for their political
value."
The intention of the Motion is that leaders will instigate
a review of nuclear weapons policies at the time of the summit.
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