AMSTERDAM, Oct 17, Reuter: Lawyers opposed to nuclear arms from some 20 countries said on Monday they were setting up a body to fight the weapons as a violation of international law.

“We hope that the possession of nuclear arms will soon be condemned just like having slaves,” said New York Lawyer Peter Weiss, Co-Chairman of the International Association of Lawyers against nuclear arms (Ialana).

He spoke after meeting Soviet Attorney General Alexander Sukharev and Swedish Lawyer Stig Gustafsson who are in Amsterdam to prepare for Ialana’s inauguration conference next year at The Hague, seat of the international court of justice.

The group represents some 20 countries in Europe, the United States, Canada, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

International laws provide a sound basis to fight the possession of nuclear arms, the Lawyers said.

“Every country says it abides by International laws but when you confront them with specifics, they don’t want to know,” Weiss said.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 21, 1988