The Holy See's delegate to an international conference on atomic
energy has emphasized the value of human life as the central issue in
"every step" towards a nuclear weapon-free world.
"Humanity," he said in
a speech this week, "deserves no less than full co-operation" of the
governments of the world in reaching agreements establishing peace and
security.
Among the 1,400 participants in the 54th general conference of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is Bishop Ettore Balestrero,
the under-secretary for the Vatican Secretariat of State's department
for relations with states.
This week, he spoke to the assembly, its
current president, Mr. Jargalsaikhany Enkhsaikhan, and the director
general, Dr. Yukiya Amano, on the Holy See's support for nuclear
disarmament and non-proliferation measures.
Presenting the Holy Father's greetings to the assembly, Bishop
Balestrero highlighted the Pope's words from the message for the 2010
World Day for Peace in which he encouraged "the efforts of the
international community to ensure progressive disarmament and a world
free of nuclear weapons."
Voicing the Holy See's "satisfaction" at advances made towards
nuclear disarmament, he underscored its support of the Non-proliferation
Treaty (NPT). As the "only multilateral legal instrument currently
available, intended to bring about a nuclear weapons free world," he
said that "it must never be allowed to be weakened."
According to the IAEA, the NPT "aims to prevent the spread of nuclear
weapons and weapons technology, to foster the peaceful uses of nuclear
energy, and to further the goal of disarmament."
Bishop Balestrero said the entry into force of the far-reaching
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is "of the highest priority," as
is the ratification of measures to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones
by all States. The latter, he explained, is "the best example of trust,
confidence and affirmation that peace and security are possible without
possession nuclear weapons.
"Humanity," he asserted, "deserves no less than the full co-operation
of all States in this important matter. Every step on the
non-proliferation and disarmament agenda must be built on the principle
of the preeminent and inherent value of human dignity and the centrality
of the human person, which constitute the basis of international
humanitarian law."
SIC: CNA/INT'L