Saturday, May 23, 2015

US blocks nuclear disarmament document over Israel, Moscow fumes

Published time: May 23, 2015 14:37 
A deactivated Soviet-era SS-4 medium range nuclear capable ballistic missile is displayed at La Cabana fortress in Havana (Reuters / Desmond Boylan)
A deactivated Soviet-era SS-4 medium range nuclear capable ballistic missile is displayed at La Cabana fortress in Havana (Reuters / Desmond Boylan)
2.8K4071
Washington has blocked the final document of a UN conference that reviewed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, accusing Egypt of manipulating the gathering to target Israel. Moscow has slammed the US for rendering the four-week meeting futile.
The 9th international conference was held in New York from April 27 until May 22. A total of 162 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) participant states were in attendance. These conferences are held every five years to assess the worldwide disarmament process.
The blocked document included a plan to establish a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East. To do this, Egypt, who first proposed such a zone in 1980, suggested a regional UN conference on banning weapons of mass destruction. The gathering would have no pre-determined agenda and would go ahead with or without the presence of Israel.

This was stonewalled by the US, with Washington representative Rose Gottemoeller saying the final document reviewed on Friday was "incompatible with our longstanding policies."
She accused Egypt and other Arab supporters of the nuclear-free zone of being "not willing to let go of these unrealistic and unworkable conditions," AP reports.
Israel, which is an observer, but not a participant of the NPT, is widely believed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal, which it has neither confirmed nor denied. It is also a close ally of the US.
Egypt expressed its disappointment and said: "This will have consequences in front of the Arab world and public opinion."

Washington's position was backed by the UK and Canada, ultimately sinking the proposal which had to be approved by all countries.
Russia, for its part, said it was committed to nuclear non-proliferation and saw similar commitment from most other participants.
"The vast majority of the delegations have noted that the treaty remains a 'cornerstone' of international security and stability, and serves their interests," a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said. "Participant countries have confirmed their readiness to comply with their obligations under the NPT."
"We regretfully acknowledge that because of the positions of the US, Britain and Canada, we could not adopt the final document which included provisions on fulfilling the 1995 resolution on creating a Middle East zone free of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction." the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
It added, however, that Russia still has faith in the Treaty: "Despite such an outcome of the conference, the Russian Federation is ready to continue cooperating with other countries to help strengthen the NPT, provide its wholesomeness and viability."
The failure of this conference means the next one can only be held in 2020.
http://rt.com/news/261485-us-blocks-nukes-deal/

Pfingsten zielt auf Völkerverständigung

Von den biblischen Geschichten über den Turmbau in Babel und von Pfingsten in Jerusalem leitet sich die Wegweisung ab, sich gegenseitig an den verschiedenen Orten der Welt wahrzunehmen und die Menschen hier und dort in ihrer Geschichte und Prägung und Ausgestaltung ernst zu nehmen. 

Dieser Geist Gottes hat sich in besonderer Weise auf Christus, den Menschgewordenen, gelegt und von ihm in Nächstenliebe, in Feindesliebe hinein ausgestrahlt.

„Wohlauf, lasst uns weniger von gestern oder für dereinst leben, vielmehr als Nebenan-Menschen – in unmittelbarer Nachbarschaft auf der ganzen Erde. Wohlauf, lasst uns die Erde als rund erkennen: damit unser Denken die Richtung wechseln kann, und respektieren, dass jeder Ort, jeder Punkt auf diesem Globus ein Mittelpunkt ist, sodass Anfang und Ende nur noch eine Frage der Perspektive sind“, betonte Bischof Janssen.

Mo, 13.06.2011

Der Oldenburger Bischof Jan Janssen predigte am Pfingstmontag 2011 in der Oldenburger St. Lamberti-Kirche 

Die biblischen Berichte schildern nach Jesu Tod am Kreuz, der Auferstehung Christi und Himmelfahrt eine neue Gemeinschaft der Jünger: "Sie wurden alle erfüllt von dem Heiligen Geist und fingen an, zu predigen in anderen Sprachen", heißt es in der Apostelgeschichte. 
Die babylonische Sprachverwirrung, die nach der Hybris des Turmbaus zu Babel einsetzte ist mit Pfingsten aufgehoben. Jetzt verstehen die  Nachfolger Christi  die Botschaft Jesu in ihrem Sinngehalt: Gemeinschaftsbildung, Völkerverständigung, Reden miteinander statt schießen. Die Möglichkeit der Diplomatie erschließt sich von Pfingsten her.
Möge dieser "heilige Geist" unsere Herzen öffnen und vor allem scheinbar verfeindete Völker, unter die die Herrschenden Zwietracht säten wieder einander näher bringen.
irene eckert