b) MPI is organizing a conference with NNWS with the German government in early 2013. Germany has pledged financial assistance but more needs to be raised.
MPI and other groups are in negotiations with the Canton of Basel concerning the establishment of an office at the University of Basel, which will be occupied by Alyn Ware. The Canton has pledged 300,000 SF for the next three years, to support the work of MPI, the World Future Council and PNND (Parliamentarians for Nuclear Disarmament).
Peter informs about decisions concerning representatives:
MPI Executive committee: Douglas Roche, acting Chair of MPI, appointed a new Executive Committee consisting of himself, David Krieger, Jonathan Granoff and Peter Weiss, but Peter declined, pending IALANA’s decision
MPI Steering committee: after a discussion the board decided that IALANA-representative will be John Burroughs, deputy Reiner Braun (mainly when the meetings are in Europe and in the preparation of the Berlin Conference). It is not clear at the moment whether John Burroughs will take the place on the Executive Committee to which Ambassador Roche wanted to appoint Peter, or only the place on the Steering Committee which up to now was occupied by Peter. Peter will clarify this with Ambassador Roche.
Preparatory committee for MPI Berlin Conference 2013: Xanthe Hall will be the main European organizer for the conference in Berlin, she will be supported by Reiner Braun and Lucas Wirl
Peter Weiss solicits for a better cooperation between the leading NGOs concerning abolition: Powerful statements of the organizations would be needed. For example: US will soon announce a new nuclear strategic plan. A commentary is needed. It would be better if it has twenty signatures instead of only that of LCNP.
c) Peter mentions the offer of Archbishop Dziega to invite world religious leaders to Szczechin to issue a statement of world religious leaders calling for a nuclear weapons free world. Peter and John Burroughs have met with Archbishop Chullikatt, representative of the Holy See to the United Nations, who is prepared to support this project provided it is ecumenical. Peter Becker reports that in Germany exists a new movement concerning peace education. There are several networks in Rheinland-Pfalz, Hessen, Nordrhein-Westfalen with treaties between ministries of religion and the peace-education movements with strong involvement of the church. He will try to enlist the support of Bishop Schneider as the leading representative of the protestant church in Germany. Cora Weiss mentions Weeramantry’s book: A Lord’s Prayer. Responsible organizer: Peter Becker, with Pasquale Policastro as liaison with Archbishop Dziega, John and Peter as liaison with Archbishop Chullikatt and assistance from the international IALANA community.
d) Peter Weiss mentioned that a new sort of customary law is in development: New Zealand has a law which inhibits cooperation on nuclear projects; launched after extended opposition. Similar regulations exist in Austria, Mongolia, further a project in Bangladesh. He proposes to discuss a model law. Decision: Germans should prepare this model-legislation in cooperation with IPPNW. Alyn Ware will send the materials to Dieter Deiseroth, cc. Peter Becker and Peter Weiss.
e) Reiner Braun gave a short report on the NPT PrepCom activities: the different side events and the symposium on the role of the IAEA
Further reports: see IALANA News 4/2012
2. Further activities
a) Campaign Back to the Court: The legal work is done. But we have another ICJ than in 1996. Dieter urges that we must do something. The problem: Which state would be in favor for this? John Burroughs mentions that in appendix I.4.a. of the booklet on the project is mentioned modernization of NW as an example for violation of the Art. VI obligation. That would be a good point for an initiative.
Peter Weiss: is basically in favor of returning to the court on the question of good faith compliance with the disarmament obligation, but says further discussion is required.
Reiner asks how the former project was raised: Peter reports that it was a common work of Richard Falk, Burns Weston and him which became a project of LCNP, IALANA, IPNW and other organizations. John mentions that the NGO Reaching Critical Will has published an book on the worldwide modernization work. John offers a memo on the subject and will contact Dieter Deiseroth. The memo should be ready for further discussion until June 2012. A telephone conference of the board with Dieter Deiseroth should discuss further steps. Peter Weiss recalls Phon’s work on the subject. He will inform Phon about our initiative.
b) Cooperation with ICAN? The board underlined the importance of a collaboration with ICAN. John and Reiner will discuss details in a meeting on May 2.
c) Norway-conference: The government is in favor of a ban on nuclear weapons. It is holding a conference on humanitarian disarmament in spring 2013. How can IALANA contribute its expertise? Decision: German IALANA writes a letter to the Norwegian Minister for external affairs in cooperation with John Burroughs.
c.1) Peter Weiss reports that in US-discussion the term “convention” is totally rejected by the government. It may be useful to look for other terms that accomplish the same objective without inviting rejection from the US, the major player on the nuclear weapons stage.
d) IAEA: The agency finds many decisions but there are very few NGO-commentaries. We need a change. The next steps for a continuation of the work on IAEA should be discussed after the symposium on the role of IAEA of May 3 and 4.
e) Peter Becker gives information on the Szczecin conference 27th-29th May. One main subject is a preparation of a conference in Moscow in November 2012 in the institute of Mark Entin. Cora asks about the costs, translation, guides etc.; the necessary logistics. Peter Becker will determine.
3. New affiliates
The board sees the importance of getting new affiliates. Every member is asked to explore their contacts to different countries in order to establish new affiliates. Pasquale Policastro has good relations to Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia and Romania and should be congratulated on having established an affiliate in Poland. After a discussion the board decides to develop:
- a mission statement for the international IALANA on the basis of the German and LCNP mission statements,
- guidelines for the acceptance of new affiliates.
John Burroughs will develop a first draft of the mission statement. Alyn Ware will develop a first draft of guidelines for acceptance of new affiliates; Alice Slater volunteered to help.
4. NATO summit 2012
Reiner Braun informed on the counter summit of the peace movement and on IALANA’s two workshops on missile defence and nuclear weapons in Europe. The board decides to make a statement on the NATO Summit.
5. Finances
Japan pays 2.000 EUR.
New Zealand announces 750 EUR.
LCNP announces 2.000 USD for September or earlier; with aid of Western States Legal Foundation.
Italy: announced 500 EUR.
Sweden: Peter Becker will contact Stig Gustaffson.
Decision: After clearing of the income-situation we draft the budget and send it around.
6. General Assembly 2013
Reiner is in favor for Sweden. After discussion we try to find a relation between the Norway conference and the next General Assembly.
7. Conference “Peace through law”
Peter Becker informs about a second conference in Bremen in October 2012 as a successor to the successful conference at Humboldt-University in June 2009. John Burroughs and Andrew Lichterman mention an important point on the agenda: Nuclear weapons undermine the international legal order. Peter Weiss mentions the possible participation of LCNP board member James T. Ranney, author of a book, “Peace Through Law”.
Kenji Urata proposes the construction of an academic council of IALANA as an advisory body for such conferences.
Alyn Ware mentions that they have a plan of a similar conference in Auckland.
Andrew Lichterman and John Burroughs would like to participate in the conference and proposes to invite Richard Falk to the conference.
8. Appendix
The Report by Jalana, in which how Jalana members successfully expressed their onions on the Fukushima issues and what they struggled for the Hibausha’s aids, was decided to be presented at the Reception,
and Toshinori Yamada ( a new member of the board:Japan) did do by reading the Jalana’s report there.
9. Next board meeting
It is decided to have the next board meeting with the next annual meeting.
Marburg, 3rd May 2012
Peter Becker
Reiner Braun