Dear colleague,
    Iran's uranium enrichment activities have been placed at the center of an international dispute with potentially grave regional and global security implications (www.solami.com/iran.htm | .../iranx.htm).
    Iran, a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (.../NPT.htm), claims these activities to be fully in line with its rights and obligations under the NPT; it has declared them to be for peaceful purposes, and it has invoked sovereign rights to carry them further. Yet, and even though the IAEA is not seen to have produced any evidence to the contrary, Israel has expressed concern over these activities, officially declaring their continuation to constitute an existential threat to the State of Israel.
    Coupled with related official declarations by the Iranian President on the one hand, and the Israeli Prime Minister and a member of his cabinet on the other (.../NPT.htm#threat | .../iranx.htm#threatens), the questions thus arise:
1.    Which, if any, of the activities and/or official declarations at issue constitute now, or at what point in the future, a threat or aggression in the sense of UNSCR 255 (1968)? (for an authoritative comment on the legal effects & limits of this special UN Security Council Resolution, see: .../NPT.htm#Bindschedler).
2.    As a lawmaker in your country not willing to let the rule of law be undermined and the instruments of security - such as the NPT and S/Res/255 - to be stacked, turned upside-down, or pushed aside: are you prepared to seek to stem the tide by consulting with colleagues at home and abroad on the most effective measures to be taken by the parties concerned and their allies. This in order to facilitate a prompt diplomatic solution of the nuclear crisis thus building up in the Middle East, e.g. by way of a follow-up meeting to the 1968 Geneva Conference of Non-Nuclear Weapon States (until the conclusion of which Iran could be expected to volontarily suspend its uranium enrichment activities), and/or other initiatives suggested by Swiss lawmakers (Motion 06.3103: "Good Offices on Current Nuclear Energy Matters", Motion 08.3402 "Clarification regarding the Treaty Nuclear on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons"), or the Sesame program, sponsored by the Jordanian King, regarding confidence-building Iranian-Israeli contacts/cooperations in nuclear science (www.sesame.org.jo/Contact/mail.aspx)?
    Thanking you in advance for your benevolant consideration of this matter, I shall be glad to assist you in all related matters, and look foreward to your feedback. Sincerely yours,

Anton Keller, Director, International Committee for European Security and Co-operation
+4122-7400362    +4179-6047707    swissbit@solami.com
15.6.08 (url: www.solami.com/255.htm)

Question Relating to Measures to Safeguard Non-Nuclear-Weapon States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

The Security Council,
    Noting with appreciation the desire of a large number of States to subscribe to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and thereby to undertake not to receive the transfer from any transferor whatsoever of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or of control over such weapons or explosive devices directly or indirectly, not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, and not to seek or receive any assistance in the manufacture of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices,
    Taking into consideration the concern of certain of these States that, in conjunction with their adherence to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, appropriate measures be undertaken to safeguard their security,
    Bearing in mind that any aggression accompanied by the use of nuclear weapons would endanger the peace and security of all States,
1. Recognizes that aggression with nuclear weapons or the threat of such aggression against a non-nuclear-weapon State would create a situation in which the Security Council, and above all its nuclear-weapon State permanent members, would have to act immediately in accordance with their obligations under the United Nations Charter;
2. Welcomes the intention expressed by certain States that they will provide or support immediate assistance, in accordance with the Charter, to any non-nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that is a victim of an act or an object of a threat of aggression in which nuclear weapons are used;
3. Reaffirms in particular the inherent right, recognized under Article 51 of the Charter, of individual and collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.
(adopted at the 1433rd session by 10 to 0 votes, with 5 abstentions (Algeria, Brasil, France, India and Pakistan)

Motion 08.3402 (13.Juni 2008)

Klarstellung zum Vertrag über die Nichtverbreitung von Atomwaffen

Der Bundesrat wird beauftragt, gegenüber den Nuklearwaffenstaaten und den Konfliktparteien im Nahen Osten unverzüglich, unmissverständlich und mit Nachdruck in Erinnerung zu rufen, unter welchen Bedingungen die Schweiz dem Vertrag über die Nichtweiterverbreitung der Atomwaffen NPT beigetreten ist, und sich allenfalls genötigt sehen könnte sich daraus zurückzuziehen (www.solami.com/NPT.htm). Es gilt an die Rechte und Pflichten zu erinnern, welche den Vertragspartnern weiterhin obliegen, wobei besonders auf die Sicherheitsrats-Resolution 255 vom 19.Juni 1968 hinzuweisen ist (.../255.htm), welche gemäss bundesrätlicher NPT-Botschaft ans Parlament vom 30.Oktober 1974 "eine Garantieerklärung gegen atomare Drohungen oder Angriffe der Kernwaffenmächte gegen Nichtkernwaffenstaaten enthält. Dieser Entschliessung waren entsprechende Garantieerklärungen der USA, der UdSSR und Grossbritanniens vorausgegangen (17. Juni 1968)."(.../12083.pdf, BBl 1974 II 1038). Und es gilt an das Interesse der Weltgemeinschaft an auch in Zukunft verlässlich verfügbaren Guten Diensten der Schweiz zu erinnern, welche von der Schweizer Diplomatie und Wirtschaft eine strikt neutrale Haltung und auch in wirtschaftlichen Belangen die unabdingbare Aufrechterhaltung des courant normal erfordern (z.B. zur wirksamen Vertretung der amerikanischen Interessen in Iran seit der Besetzung der US Botschaft in Teheran, zur allfälligen Organisation einer Nachfolgekonferenz der 1968er Genfer Konferenz der Nicht-Nuklearwaffen-Staaten, sowie zur Verwirklichung vertrauensfördernder Massnahmen auch und besonders auf dem Nuklearsektor: .../iran.htm#sesame).

eingereicht von:  Freysinger Oskar   - Mitunterzeichner:   Baettig Dominique, Baumann J. Alexander, Bignasca Attilio, Dunant Jean Henri, Estermann Yvette, Kaufmann Hans, Nidegger Yves, Reimann Lukas, Reymond André, Stamm Luzi

Motion 08.3402 (13.Juni 2008)

Clarification regarding the Treaty Nuclear on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons

The Government is requested to remind nuclear weapon states and the parties to the Near Eastern conflict without delay, unmistakably and persistently of both the conditions under which Switzerland acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons NPT, and under which, in the event, it may find itself compelled to withdraw from the NPT (www.solami.com/NPT.htm). It is urgent to point out the rights and obligations which remain binding on NPT member states, stressing the importance of Security Council Resolution 255 of 19 June 1968 (.../255.htm) which, according to the Government's NPT Message to Parliament of 30 October 1974, "contains a guarantee declaration, in favor of non-nuclear weapon states, against nuclear threats or aggressions by nuclear weapon states. This Resolution was preceded by corresponding guarantee declarations by the United States of America, USSR and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (17 June 1968)." (.../12083.pdf, BBl 1974 II 1038). And it is indicated to take note of the world community's interest for Switzerland's Good Offices to remain reliable and available, which requires Switzerland's diplomacy and economy to remain strictly neutral and, in commercial matters, too, to maintain the indispensable courant normal (e.g. for the effective representation of US interests in Iran ever since the takeover of the US embassy in Teheran, for the eventual organization of a follow-up to the 1968 Geneva Conference of Non-Nuclear Weapon States, and for the realization of confidence-building measures also and particularly in nuclear matters: .../iran.htm#sesame).
tabled by:  Freysinger Oskar   - co-signatories:   Baettig Dominique, Baumann J. Alexander, Bignasca Attilio, Dunant Jean Henri, Estermann Yvette, Kaufmann Hans, Nidegger Yves, Reimann Lukas, Reymond André, Stamm Luzi