Commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Party of the European Left stresses: This date contains an urgent message for the need to step up the global struggle against war and militarism and to strive consequently for a Europe and a World free of nuclear weapons in the current international situation.

The nuclear threat is increasing, both through research and production of new nuclear weapons by the nuclear powers as well as because of ignoring the international rules for nuclear proliferation. And mainly as the thinking in political supremacy and hegemony for own national political and economic interests and power by the governing circles all over the world determines international policy. Ahead of all the Bush-administration -  not giving up its hegemony intentions and its political course of arms race, world-wide arms trade and political and military blackmailing. This will lead humanity into a dead end. We say NO to such international policies!

Therefore we in Europe are deeply concerned about the new dangers emanating from the US plans for the so-called “anti-missile shield” in particular. This project of the Bush administration, officially known as the “National Missile Defense” (NMD) is neither “national” nor “defensive”. It is the resurrection of the so-called “Star Wars” plans of Reagan. Worked out 25 years ago when the cold war was at its height.

The current plans may lead to a new cold war and a new division of Europe, especially after the decision by the Polish and Czech governments – against a majority of the citizens in both countries rejecting these plans - to participate by installing a radar and 10 interceptors on their soil.

It represents a great step backwards in the efforts to revive the international process of nuclear disarmament. On the contrary, a new nuclear arms race has been set in motion and in addition important nuclear disarmament agreements, such as the ABM and the 1987 INF Treaty for the abolition of the “euro-missiles” are being dismantled or seriously threatened.

We totally oppose this project and call, once more, all European governments to refuse their participation in realizing these plans. To work for a regeneration of the nuclear disarmament process through the UN and for an all-embracing pan-European security system, based on OSCE principles, with the participation of Russian Federation and other CIS states..

The answer to nuclear proliferation is a course towards the abolition of nuclear weapons, which is required by the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This Treaty must be strengthened through a new UN Conference and be fully respected both by the nuclear powers and all the non-nuclear states. In this direction, we call on the US government and other countries’ governments as well  to ratify the Complete Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). We demand the withdrawal of all remaining US nuclear weapons from European soil.

We demand the renunciation of the nuclear “first strike” and the “pre-emptive war” doctrines.

We reinforce our subscription to the 2005 Appeal of Hiroshima and Nagasaki aiming at the total elimination of nuclear weapons by the year 2020.
 
A world free of nuclear weapons is possible and necessary !