AN SNP MSP has made a statement to the United Nations on reducing the risk of nuclear weapons.
Bill Kidd – in an address at a conference of the UN Preparatory Committee of the Non Proliferation Treaty on Tuesday – called on states to work together to reduce the risk of nuclear war.
The Glasgow Anniesland MSP also urged the USA, Russia, China, France and the UK to halt their programs to develop and deploy new nuclear weapons.
Kidd is a staunch supporter of anti-nuclear power and weapons policies and is a co-president of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) – an international organisation comprising 70 parliaments and over 800 members from around the world.
In the speech in Geneva, he said: “Honourable Delegates, all of us - from nuclear weapons maintaining states and from all other states contributing to these discussions - must maintain a steadfast highpoint of debate raising the potential for annihilation of us all.
“As a Member of the Scottish Parliament, representing a constituency just over 30 miles from the base containing all of the UK Government’s nuclear arsenal, I can tell you that our Parliament has held three debates on nuclear risk-reduction and disarmament all of which resulted in votes calling for an end to nuclear weapons being sited in our land and waters.
“It is the belief of the majority of the people of Scotland that nuclear-risk-reduction by itself is insufficient. Comprehensive nuclear disarmament must also be undertaken in order to eliminate the threat of nuclear war and to ensure peace and security for all of the peoples and nations across the world now and into the future.
“I believe that it is our duty to stand up and call for this to be delivered, rather than the increasing nuclear weapons’ arsenals which we see some states spending vast sums on whilst our fellow human beings face starvation and a lack of education across the world.”
