Meeting in Vienna from 30 April to 11 May 2007, the Preparatory Committee to the 2010 Review Conference of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) underscored from the very start the importance of the risk of nuclear proliferation. This risk was recently confirmed by North Korea and is presumably presented by Iran. The risk will only increase as long as the States-Parties for their part do not comply with Article VI, which requires them to negotiate nuclear disarmament.

In this context, we must emphasize that nuclear weapons states are highly accountable; especially France. Its next chief of state shall have to involve France quickly in negotiations toward the abolition of nuclear weapons. We deeply regret that neither Ségolène Royal nor Nicolas Sarkozy, the two candidates still running for the presidency, anticipate an early achievement of Article VI of the NPT.

We strongly disapprove that Nicolas Sarkozy adopted the new nuclear posture designed by president Chirac 19 January 2006, which Ségolène Royal does in fact reject. According to this strategy, the “vital interests” of France, which nuclear arms are supposed to theoretically defend, are so wide that just about anything can become an opportunity to use nuclear weapons, even (almost preferably) against the population of a state who does not have nuclear weapons.

Along with the majority of people and states, we consider that this policy is totally unacceptable. We appeal to the French people to seriously consider the danger of such a policy when they will designate the person, either a man or a woman, who as chief of state and as chief of the military forces will have sole access to the nuclear button.

Abolition des armes nucléaires / Stop-Essais

Action des Citoyens pour le Désarmement Nucléaire

This declaration received the support of:

 Akira Kawasaki, Japan, Peace Boat

 John Burroughs, USA, Lawyers’ Committee on Nuclear Policy

 Kelvin Gascoyne, UK, Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

 Alice Slater, USA, Abolition 2000

 Susi Snyder, USA, Shunda Hai Network

 Nickolas Roth, USA, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

 Yayoi Tsuchida, Japan, Japan Gensuikyo

 Miyako Nakamura, Japan

 Colin Archer, UK/Switzerland, International Peace Bureau

 Mathias Reichl, Austria, Center for Non Violence

 Peter Nichols, UK, Abolition 2000 UK

 Felicity Hill, Australia, MAPW

 Pol D’Huyvetter, Belgium, Friends of the Earth

 Katsuya Higuma, Japan, Peace Depot

 Merav Datan, Israel

 Hans Koritke, Germany, ORL

 Zia Mian, USA

 Takao Takahara, Japan, Peace Depot

 Jean-Yvon Landrac, France, Réseau "Sortir du Nucléaire"

 Aaron Tovish, Austria, Mayors for Peace

 Kalevi Suomela, Finland, Peace Union

 Gunnar Westberg, Sweden, IPPNW

 Wolfgang Schlupp, Germany, Pressehütte

 Thomas Fester, Germany, INESAP

 Lisa Clark, Italy, BCP

 Philip White, Australia, CNIC Japan

 Regina Hagen, Germany

 Ron McCoy, Malaysia, IPPNW

 George Farebrother, UK, World Court Project

 Ernst Schwarer, Austria, IFOR

 Alois Reisenbichler, Austria, Hiroshima Group