The 59th Pugwash Conference
European Contributions to Nuclear Disarmament & Conflict
Resolution
Berlin, 1-4 July 2011
SELECTED
RELATED MEDIA STORIES
Jayantha Dhanapala, "Pugwash Movement Aims at
Elimination of Weapons of Mass Destruction," Interpress
Service, 12 August 2011. This piece appeared in multiple places,
including via Terraviva
(a journal widely read by UN diplomats) and on the Global
Issues website.
A hallmark of all these discussions
[at the 59th Pugwash Conference in Berlin] was the high-level
participation of key personalities from the regions and experts
in the different areas who served on the panels and were available
for questions from the audience in an atmosphere of transparency
and constructive dialogue. These were current and former policy
makers but what was significant was that their views were
blended with public opinion in an effort to democratize conflict
resolution as we learn the lessons of the "Arab Spring".
Amarjeet Singh Dulat and Asad Durrani,
"India-Pakistan: need for intelligence cooperation,"
The Hindu (India) Full
Story, and The News International (Pakistan) Full
Story, 14 July 2011 and reprinted as "Intelligence
reform a must," Gulf Today, 17 July 2011 Full
Story and mentioned in "Mumbai blasts: The day of
the spooks," The Express Tribune, 16 July 2011 Full
Story. This piece, by two former
intelligence chiefs from India and Pakistan, was discussed
in the Berlin Pugwash Conference, and is an outcome of Pugwash
Track II dialogue.
Intelligence services could provide an
ideal back channel to pave the way for political dialogue...dialogue—away
from the public glare and therefore under less pressure—makes
plenty of sense...Intelligence links between neighbours are
obviously desirable. It is better to institutionalise them
now, rather than trying to activate them in times of crisis.
Miguel Marin Bosch, "Pugwash en Berlín"
La Jornada, 14 July 2011, Full
Story - English
Translation
This Pugwash conference was the most attended
in recent years. Some 350 representatives from 43 countries
participated. One tenth were young people who are beginning
their professional lives. The rest of us were quite older....Among
the young German participants in the conference I detected
a very healthy attitude toward nuclear disarmament and the
just solution to the most complicated regional problems (Middle
East and South Asia)....It was a pleasure to listen to them.
"Panchayats would be empowered
soon: Soz," Kashmir Dispatch, 11 July 2011 Full
Story
Soz said that Pugwash Conference was also a sign of development.
“Various issues regarding Kashmir were discussed and
it was promised that a resolution for be drafted in future,”
he said
CBMs must to resume dialogue: Soz,
Kashmir Dispatch, 9 July 2011 Full
Story
[Soz] said that he had sent a letter to
Foreign Secretary S M Krishna to start confidence building
measures with Pakistan.
“A parliamentary forum will be created who that would
look over the issues and work on CBMs,” he said.
"Pugwash and Germany Strive for
Nuke-Free World," In-Depth News (IDN), 5 July 2011.
Full
Story This was picked up by
several sources around the world.
"Even in the hands of democracies nuclear weapons
are not guaranteed to be safe from abuse or negligence,"
[Westerwelle} warned.
"U.S. nuclear warheads a cause for global
concern: Iran envoy," Tehran Times, 3 July 2011
Full
Story
Thousands of nuclear warheads
possessed by the United States and certain other countries
is the main cause of concern appertaining to global security,
Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy
Agency said in Berlin on Friday. Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh
made the remarks during an interview with IRNA on the sidelines
of the 59th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs
"Atomwaffenfreiheit als Ziel," Neues
Deutschland, 2 July 2011 Full
Story
Jennifer Allen Simons, President of the
non-profit Simons Foundation drew attention to the fact that
the Cold War between Russia and the West was not finished
completely....Simons asked ..."What are the threats to
Europe, which make a nuclear response necessary? And why cannot
Europe be a zone free of nuclear weapons?"
"Russia open to discussion of disarmament
issues – deputy foreign minister," ITAR-TASS, 2
July 2011
Full Story
Russia is open to the discussion of issues
related to disarmament, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov
told the 59th Pugwash conference..At the same time,
a new START treaty and the recent positive
developments in the field of disarmament have shown that the
positions on the issue, in particular, those of Russia and
the United States are moving closer together, said Ryabkov.
"The number of initiatives related to this problem is
growing. So is the level of their consideration,” he
said. “This progress reflects the desire for security
and stability in the world, it means that we are moving forward
along the path to a nuclear-free world."
"Iran's nuclear policy, focus of
German Conference," Press TV, 2 July 2011 Full
Story
[Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's ambassador
to the International Atomic Energy Agency] said Western behavior
was fuelling anti-Western sentiment in his country. All speakers
said sanctions against the Islamic Republic were failing and
hoped for a return to the negotiating table.
"US nuclear arsenal is a global threat"
Press TV, 2 July 2011 Full
Story
[Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's ambassador to
the International Atomic Energy Agency] called
for more international efforts to reach the goal of total
nuclear disarmament, noting that this edition of the Pugwash
Conference is focused on European contributions to nuclear
disarmament
"Gegen den Stillstand bei der atomaren
Abrüstung," (Against Stagnation in Nuclear Disarmament),
Neues Deutschland, 1 July 2011 (an interview with Prof. Goetz
Neuneck) Full
Story
At Pugwash conferences there is always
a mixture of scientists, experts and decision makers. The
exchange of ideas and the exchange of views in an intimate
atmosphere even from quite different perspectives is their
trademark.
"Russian delegation attending 59th
Pugwash Conference in Berlin," ITAR-TASS, 1 July 2011
Full
Story
Disarmament is as important as the prevention
of climate change, [Westerwelle] said, adding that the disarmament
notion was applied to conventional armaments, as well. “Together
with NATO, we plan to put the reduction of sub-strategic nuclear
armaments on the agenda of the next negotiations with Russia,”
Westerwelle said.
"Elder Statesmen debattieren die Weltlage in
Berlin," Der Tagesspegiel, 1 July 2011 Full
Story
"Pugwash movement applauds disarmament progress,"
Voice of Russia, 1 July 2011 Full
Story
"Ban stresses crucial role of science in addressing
current global challenges," UN News Service, 1 July 2011.
Full
Story This article appeared in other places, including
the Turkish
Weekly.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today underlined
the role of science and technology in helping humanity to
address global challenges such as climate change, infectious
diseases, terrorism, hunger, disaster preparedness and nuclear
disarmament. In a message to the 59th Pugwash Conference on
Science and World Affairs that opened in Berlin, Mr. Ban thanked
the organization for its efforts over the past half a century
to bring scientists and policy-makers together to advance
common interests in peace, security and human welfare worldwide.
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The 59th Pugwash Conference is sponsored by the German Federal
Foreign Office, Berlin
Organised with the German Pugwash Group
