The Dutch government has asked NATO to do all it can to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
The plea launched by outgoing Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has the backing of Belgium, Germany, Luxemburg and Norway. Mr Verhagen wants the Alliance to discuss the idea at a summit of NATO foreign ministers to be held in Estonia in late April.
Foreign Minister Verhagen stresses that the Netherlands does not envisage a nuclear-free Europe but a nuclear-free world. The minister rejects Labour calls for unilateral nuclear disarmament.
Mr Verhagen says unilateral disarmament makes it impossible to press demands. But he does accept the possibility of a nuclear-free Europe if it helps reduce nuclear weapons worldwide.
Maxime Verhagen
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Sorry Mr. Verhagen, you failed to keep our own Dutch troops in Afghanistan and now you want to tell the rest of NATO or Europe what to do?
How’s that for arrogance?
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