SCOTLAND AT RISK OF NUCLEAR ATTACK.

SCOTLAND AT RISK OF NUCLEAR ATTACK.

WORLD LEGAL AUTHORITY SAYS NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN SCOTLAND ARE NOT JUST A WESTMINSTER RESPONSIBILITY

FORMER ICJ JUDGE WARNS THAT TRIDENT ON THE CLYDE INCREASES RISK OF NUCLEAR ATTACK

A leading world legal authority has spoken about the risks to Scotland by the continued stationing of nuclear weapons on the Clyde. Speaking at an Edinburgh conference today (Tuesday) the former vice-president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Judge Christopher Weeramantry said:

"...the safety of the population of Scotland is the concern of Scotland. The health of the Scottish population is the concern of Scotland. The welfare of future generations of its population is the concern of Scotland. The protection of the environment of Scotland is the concern of Scotland. The purity of the seas and the ocean life around Scotland are the concerns are the concern of Scotland".

Judge Weeramantry said that while international relations is reserved to the UK Parliament the Scottish Parliament must uphold international humanitarian and legal obligations which weapons of mass destruction are in breach of.

Speaking at a major conference in Edinburgh entitled “Trident and International Law: Scotland’s Obligations”, Judge Weeramantry said the weapons increased the danger of nuclear attack on Scotland and said that the Scottish Parliament does have responsibilities:

"...gross violations of international obligations are not excluded from the purview of the Scottish Parliament. The absence of power in the former area cannot cancel out its responsibilities in the latter".

Judge Weeramantry also noted the horrific birth defects which afflict newborns babies in the Marshall Islands caused by nuclear test explosions and said Scots were right to be deeply concerned about the effects nuclear weapons could have on the “welfare of future generations”.

The conference was opened by Westminster SNP leader and Foreign Affairs and Defence Spokesperson Angus Robertson MP. Commenting afterwards, Mr Robertson said:

“Judge Weeramantry is one of the world’s leading legal authorities on nuclear weapons and his comments add further weight to the argument for removing Trident from Scotland and the Scottish Parliament having full powers to decide on the matter.

“This conference in Scotland underlines our commitment to a safer world, by ridding ourselves of weapons of mass destruction. Majority opinion in Scotland is opposed to the Trident weapons system that is based on the Clyde.

“The time is right to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland.”