M. Gorbachev – Global Security in the 21st Century

Mikhail Gorbachev gave a wide-ranging speech on global security issues in London today – 23 September 2004 - speaking at the launch of the WMD Awareness Programme. In his speech the former President said:

“Mankind has a chance to make the 21st century a century of peace and security. Yet the opportunities opened up by the end of the Cold War have not been used as they should have. Instead of building a truly new world order, the world’s leading power engaged in geopolitical games and a struggle for spheres of influence. They underestimated the dangers posed by non-state actors and failed states. September 11 highlighted the world community’s unpreparedness to deal with new threats.”

“The world is now facing three main challenges:

-the challenge of security, including the risks associated with weapons of mass destruction and terrorism
-the challenges of poverty and backwardness
-the challenge of the world’s environme
“The threat of terrorism should be countered by uniting the efforts of the world’s nations. Today, terrorists use relatively unsophisticated weapons. Should they gain access to weapons of mass destruction, the threat would become catastrophic. This is another argument in favour of drastically reducing and ultimately abolishing nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.”

“An immediate task in this context is to reaffirm and strengthen the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty with the nuclear powers living up to their commitments to reduce nuclear arsenals. We must insist on implementation of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and resist attempts to change military doctrines to make the use of nuclear weapons more ‘acceptable’”.

“While concerns about the nuclear programmes of countries like North Korea and Iran may be genuine, any attempt to use force to solve such problems would have disastrous consequences. Political means and diplomatic methods should be used instead.”

“The biggest nuclear powers – the United States and Russia – still bear the greatest responsibility in reducing nuclear arms. Despite some flaws, their recent treaty on strategic reductions is a step in the right direction.”

“There is an urgent need to reassert and strengthen international law and start building a truly new world order – more stable, more just and more humane. In building such an international order, Europe – a united Europe that should include Russia – will have a key role to play.”