Messages from foreign leaders in solidarity with 2003 World Conference against A & H Bombs

Following are excerpts of messages the 2003 World Conference against A & H Bombs has received many messages from heads of state or government . Below are excerpts from messages from Bangladesh, Laos,Malaysia, Sweden, Thailand, and Vietnam.

President Iajuddin Ahmad of the Peopleﾕs Republic of Bangladesh: "Our support towards initiatives and measures for attaining global peace and security also stems from our constitutional requirements. We have based our International Relations on the Principles and Charter of the UN. The Constitution of Bangladesh ﾐ the supreme law of the land, enjoins us to renounce the use of force in international relations and strive for general and complete disarmament."

President Khamtay Siphandone of the Lao Peopleﾕs Democratic Republic : "The Government of the Lao Peopleﾕs Democratic Republic has always condemned the use of weapons of mass destruction, which would only cause the loss of life and property to innocent people. It is well known that the Lao Peopleﾕs Democratic Republic is a Party to the ﾒConvention on Nuclear Test Banﾓ and ﾒthe Convention on Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.ﾓ Our Lao people will spare no efforts together with the world community to contribute to the protection of lasting peace in the world."

Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad of Malaysia: "The determination of Nuclear Weapons States to maintain their arsenal of nuclear weapons and to develop new forms of nuclear weapons stems from the false notion that these weapons will assure them of their security. On the contrary, such action would only heighten the climate of mistrust and apprehension, and contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The path to peace and security lies not in armament, but through the establishment for a more equitable and inclusive international system."

Prime Minister Goran Persson of Sweden: "International disarmament, non-proliferation and a world free of weapons of mass destruction are long-standing priorities for the Swedish government. To reach these goals multilateral solutions are necessary. It is vital that all countries adhere to the existing multilateral treaties on nuclear weapons. We must also continue working on the reinforcement of, and compliance with those treaties.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand: "Thailand is presently working closely with other ASEAN member states to strengthen the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) and encourage all Nuclear Weapon States to accede to the Protocol of Bangkok Treaty. We will continue to cooperate with the international community to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, to move towards a total ban on all kinds of nuclear testing, and to completely eliminate existing stockpiles of such weapons.

President Tran Duc Luong of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam : "As a nation that has suffered great sacrifices in the struggle for national independence and reunification, we are aware of the serious consequences of wars on human beings, society and environment caused by weapons of mass destruction, including chemicals such as Agent Orange/dioxin. We are, therefore, sympathetic and supportive of the just struggle of the people and progressive and peace-loving forces in Japan and the world over for prevention of nuclear wars and total elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction." (end)