Delegates fail to sway Kirk on nuclear disarmament

Published on Tuesday 20 May 2008 22:16

THE Kirk was forced to clarify its position on nuclear weapons yesterday after linking the possible development of Iran's atomic arsenal to the scrapping of Trident.

A report before the General Assembly yesterday argued it was hypocrisy for Britain to pursue the renewal of Trident while demanding disarmament from others.

However, debating the report on domestic and international political issues, from the influential Church and Society Council, some delegates said it was wrong to link the two unrelated issues. Two representatives from the Iranian Embassy were present during the debate.

The council report said that while it did not believe it was in Iran's interests to develop nuclear weapons, "the position of the UK and US governments in particular is gravely weakened in relation to Iran when the UK seeks to renew Trident".

The Rev Mark Nicholas, of Gorebridge, said the council was mistaken in its beliefs. "My concern is that this ties together two matters," he said. "The Church and Society is right to indicate concern about nuclear proliferation extending to Iran developing its own deterrent.

"But to ally that to unilaterally giving up our own nuclear deterrent is mistaken. I concede that it smacks of fairness and fair-mindedness, but I wonder if it overrides wisdom."

Mr Nicholas called for the two issues to be discussed separately from each other.

Supporting Mr Nicholas's comments, Mr Geoffrey Smith, of Dumfries and Kirkcudbright Presbytery

, said: "In general, I support the government on defence matters. Unilateral nuclear disarmament is nave in my opinion. I realise we are imperfect human beings, but we have to do what best we can."

However, the criticism received stiff opposition from the assembly as a body.

Former Moderator, the Very Rev Dr Alan MacDonald, gave an impassioned plea for the Assembly to reaffirm its opposition.

He said: "When the world is watching, this of all times is not the time to change a long-standing position."

He added that people around the world were "bewildered" by the UK's "hypocrisy" in possessing nuclear weapons while stating others should not.

Morag Mylne, the convener, said: "Nuclear weapons are nuclear weapons. They are completely wrong wherever they are. They are wrong in this country, they are wrong in Iran and it is the position of this General Assembly for a quarter of a century that nuclear weapons have no place in this society or anywhere else."

Mr Nicholas's move to have the recommendations changed was defeated unanimously.