Vol. 519 No. 1
40 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's view of the ratification by Russia of the START II Treaty; his views on the recent Russian statement that it reserved the right of first use of nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13083/00]
When I addressed the NPT review conference in New York a fortnight ago I welcomed the legislative steps taken for the ratification of START II by the Duma of the Russian Federation as a significant step in the process of nuclear disarmament. By taking this step it now only remains for the United States to ratify the relevant protocols for the full implementation of the treaty to commence. The ratification of START II will further enable negotiations on START III to commence, with the prospect of further substantial negotiations on nuclear arms reductions.
All the nuclear weapon states with the exception of China state that they will be the first to use nuclear weapons in certain cases. The recent restatement by the Russian Federation of its first use posture in respect of nuclear weapons mirrors that of the three western nuclear weapon states.
As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland along with a number of other states has launched an initiative, Towards a Nuclear Weapon Free World: The Need for a New Agenda. Among the proposals contained in that initiative is a call for the nuclear weapon states to adapt their nuclear weapon policies and postures in such a manner as to preclude the use of nuclear weapons. There is of course no alternative to the total elimination of nuclear weapons if humanity is to be spared the consequences of the use of these weapons either intentionally or accidentally.
