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Summit debates Scotland's future without nuclear missiles

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Oct 22, IRNA
UK Nuclear Arms-Scotland
A summit to develop a strategy to stop Scotland being used as a base for Britain's Trident nuclear missiles opened in Glasgow Monday.

The meeting, called by Scotland's devolved administration, brought together government ministers, peace campaigners, academics, trade unionists, environmentalists and journalists opposed to the UK's plans to renew its submarine-based nuclear deterrent.

Although defence matters are reserved for the British government, much of the logistical responsibilities are delegated to Scottish ministers and agencies.

Glasgow's Herald newspaper suggested last week the British government's plans to refurbish the Clyde naval bases to accommodate a replacement for the Trident nuclear weapons system "could be stymied by Scottish ministers."
It comes after peace campaigners earlier this month ended year- long daily blockades of the base to highlight their opposition to the UK's controversial plans, which some international lawyers have indicted could breach the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

There have also been reports that the EU's environmental regulations may be used to cease the transportation of nuclear material around Scotland that pose a genuine danger to residents.

When calling the summit last month, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said he was looking at other ways to oppose the renewal of Trident, which is estimated to cost Dlrs 40 billion.

To coincide with the conference, Salmond also announced that he is seeking international support to prevent Britain from using Scotland as a base for its submarine-based nuclear missiles by writing to representatives of 189 countries signed up the NPT.

At the end of January, CND published the findings of an opinion poll showing that 73 per cent of the people of Scotland opposed spending billions to replace the nuclear missiles.

A separate survey carried out by the environmentalist group Friends of the Earth in May also found that there was overwhelming opposition in the recently elected Scottish parliament to build new nuclear powers stations.

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