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Rome, Italy, Apr 10,
2010 (CNA/EWTN News)- The signing of the nuclear
reduction treaty between the U.S. and Russia is "news
that the World Council of Churches has awaited for a
long time," according to the secretary general of the
international ecumenical organization. While he praised
this "modest" step, he prayed that governments will
"have the courage and the will to follow-up this
important development.”
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START),
which was signed by President Barack Obama and his
Russian counterpart, President Dmitry Medvedev,
yesterday in Prague, includes measures that will reduce
the "deployed strategic warhead limit" by 30 percent
from previously established levels.
Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, secretary general of the
World Council of Churches (WCC), celebrated the decision
on Thursday, calling it "a sign of the leadership needed
for establishing a sustainable and just peace in the
world.”
Reflecting on the establishment of what he deemed as
only "modest cuts" from the "two most heavily armed
nations in the world," Rev. Tveit said that the most
promising result of the treaty is the two nations'
agreement to increase their openness regarding their
respective nuclear arsenals.
"If the world’s most powerful states practice new levels
of nuclear transparency and verification, as we hope
they will," he stated, "they will be able to bring new
leadership and hope to bear on a range of nuclear arms
problems.”
The reverend expressed his own hope that the resulting
"new confidence" could bring about further, deeper cuts
in the future.
He added that now more than ever, on the verge of next
month's U.N. meeting to review the "the most important
disarmament agreement of all," the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty, "signs of new openness are
especially welcome.”
Rev. Tveit concluded his statement, saying "We pray for
governments to have the courage and the will to
follow-up this important development.”
The WCC, a fellowship of nearly 350 Christian Churches,
has been vocal in its support of disarmament measures,
releasing a statement last September which called
current times "a season of hope" in the ever more
realistic possibility of a nuclear weapon-free world.
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