STATEMENT OF THE PUGWASH COUNCIL

"Challenges for Peace in the New Millennium"

51st Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs
Agra, India, 12-16 March 2002

16 March 2002 - Six months after the tragic terror attacks of 11 September 2001, the world community faces complex and inter-related security challenges that could well result in a catastrophe involving the use of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction.

In South Asia, fighting continues in Afghanistan while tensions remain high between Pakistan and India. In the Middle East, the deepening crisis between Israelis and Palestinians has erupted into armed conflict, with serious ramifications for Middle East security. More broadly, fears remain over the possible terrorist use of a weapon of mass destruction and with the future course of the 'war on terrorism,' especially in terms of a possible US military attack against Iraq.

The situation is also grave regarding nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. The international arms control framework and prospects for urgently needed deep reductions in nuclear arsenals are being challenged by US plans to develop missile defenses, to withdraw from the ABM Treaty in June 2002, and to develop new types of nuclear weapons and adopt new nuclear strategies. Concerns over the control of fissile material in Russia and other countries, Iraq's refusal to comply with UN weapons inspection resolutions, and most worrisome the possible acquisition of nuclear weapons by terrorist groups, all highlight the need for enhanced non-proliferation efforts to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used and are ultimately eliminated.

Recognizing the links that exist between regional instabilities in the Middle East and South Asia, threats posed by international terrorism, and the growing risks of nuclear weapons use, the Pugwash Council strongly supports:

1. Direct international involvement to defuse the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by building upon the most recent UN Security Council resolution, sponsored by the United States, calling for a Palestinian state;
2. Efforts to reduce the military standoff between Pakistan and India;
3. Multilateral efforts and not unilateral US military action to resolve the situation in Iraq, most immediately the return of UN weapons inspectors;
4. A return to cooperative arms control efforts between the US and Russia to greatly reduce their nuclear arsenals and prevent the development of new nuclear weapons systems and strategies;
5. Greater control of fissile materials and nuclear technologies to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons to both states and non-state groups;
6. A more judicious approach to the threat posed by international terrorism, one that relies on multilateral cooperation and avoids the excesses of greatly increased defense budgets, the undermining of civil and human rights, and unilateral military action;
7. A recognition by the international community of the urgent need to resolve outstanding conflicts and promote greater equity and tolerance among the world's peoples in order to resolve the underlying grievances that often give rise to terrorist actions.

The complexity of the challenges to peace in the new millennium are such that redoubled efforts at finding genuine multilateral solutions will be needed to prevent major regional conflicts and the possible catastrophic use of nuclear weapons as the international community seeks longer-term solutions to safeguarding the security and well-being of all.

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The above statement represents the views of the Pugwash Council and not those of individual participants at the 51st Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs, Challenges to Peace in the New Millennium, which was held in Agra, India from 12-16 March 2002. More than 100 scientists, scholars, and policy specialists from 30 countries around the world attended the meeting in their individual capacity, and not as representatives of any institution or government. Pugwash is grateful to the Indian Pugwash Society for its hospitality and support in hosting the 51st Conference.

For more information, Contact:

Dr. Jeffrey Boutwell, Executive Director, Pugwash Conferences
617-576-5022; pugwashdc@aol.com