INVITATION
Newsconference April 27 – 2:30 to 3 pm
UNCA Club third floor of the Secretariat building UN - New York

For immediate release

Citizens Weapons Inspections in the absence of the United Nations
For Mother Earth presents a report about secrecy surrounding US nuclear
weapons in Europe to the UN in New York

Brussels/New York, April 26, 2004 – The Belgian NGO For Mother Earth will
blow the whistle on the secret deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe
next Tuesday April 27th, during the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
PrepCom meeting in New York. Belgian Senator Patrik Vankrunkelsven will
present the “Citizens Weapons Inspection Report” to the State Parties of
the NPT, during a plenary session at the UN headquarters in New York. The
presentation will take place between 3 and 6 pm on April 27th 2004. Senator
Vankrunkelsven is a member of the ruling conservative liberal party (VLD).
He has been an active participant of Citizens Weapons Inspections in the
past. The ‘Citizens Weapons Inspection’ report and its recommendations
receives wide political support from Members of the Belgian Parliament from
different parties as well as from members of the European Parliament. Nelly
Maes, Member of European Parliament will draw attention to the importance
of the report during the next meeting and last session of the Foreign
Affairs Commission at the European Parliament tomorrow morning Tuesday
April 27th.

The report illustrates the complete lack of transparency and democratic
control regarding the secret storage of U.S. nuclear weapons in six
European countries: Belgium, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and
Turkey. Until recently, similar weapons were also stored in Greece. It
illustrates the fact that NATO member states do not live up to their
disarmament obligations as stipulated in Article VI of the NPT. NATO’s
nuclear sharing is in violation of Article I and Article II of the treaty.
Finally, the report condemns the repression that is often used against both
Members of Parliament and concerned citizens who carry out inspections of
nuclear weapon related facilities in NATO member states.



The lack of transparency and democratic control was illustrated once again
during parliamentary debates last month. Following statements on the
reduction of U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe made on March 9th by General
James L. Jones (the highest U.S. General in Europe), subsequent questions
by Members of Parliament were met by a refusal to confirm or deny the
presence of these weapons. The deployment of a suspected 150 US tactical
nuclear weapons in Europe continues to be clouded in a mist of secrecy.

In Belgium the call for compliance with the NPT, including transparency and
democratic control, receives wide support crossing all traditional party lines:

Following Members of parliament have formally endorsed the presentation of
the weapons inspection report during the NPT PrepCom: Dany Vandenbossche,
Dirk Van der Maelen, President of Flemish Parliament Norbert De Batselier &
Peter De Ridder (Social Democrats), Eloi Glorieux, Frans Ramon, Isabel
Vertriest, Johan Malcorps & Vera Dua (Green Party), Annemie Roppe, Geert
Lambert, Lionel Vandenberghe (Regionalists), Patrik Vankrunkelsven & Sven
Gatz ( Liberals) and Roel Deseyn (Christian Democrats). Members of the
European Parliament also endorse the initiative. Amongst them Anne Van
Lancker (PES Belgium), Bart Staes (EFA Belgium), Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru -
The Party of Wales), Nelly Maes (EFA Belgium) and Francisca Sauquillo (PES
– Spain)

For Mother Earth looks for financial support to continue its work. For
donations  http://www.motherearth.org/fme/support.php

Presscontact:

Pol D’Huyvetter & Wiske Jult– project coordinators
in New York April 26 – May 2, 2004
 Pol@motherearth.org |
 Wiskejult@hotmail.com



Mobile +32-495-28 02 59

Mobile +1-917-804 9595 (Emma McGregor-Mento)

Senator Patrik Vankrunkelsven Mobile +32-475-93 90 12

You can use this number to reach Belgian Senator Patrik Vankrunkelsven and
Pol D’Huyvetter and Wiske Jult in New York

More information:

Speech Senator Vankrunkelsven www.motherearth.org/nuke/UNspeech.pdf

Full inspection report can be found on April 27th www.motherearth.org/nuke/reportNPT2004.pdf


NPT treaty text:  http://disarmament2.un.org/wmd/npt/npttext.html
INVITATION
Newsconference April 27 – 2:30 to 3 pm
UNCA Club third floor of the Secretariat building UN - New York