Text of Bishop Pilla's Letter to President
Clinton on Global Landmine Ban
January 13, 1997
The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Clinton:
I write on behalf of the U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops to reiterate
our hopes and concerns about achieving a global ban on anti-personnel
landmines as you make important decisions about how to pursue
this goal. As you begin your second term, we ask you once again
to provide strong U.S. leadership now for early conclusion of
a treaty to ban these terrible weapons.
As you know, the U.S. Bishops have joined Pope John Paul II and
Catholic bishops from around the world in calling for a ban on
these indiscriminate and deadly weapons. We welcome your administration's
expressed commitment to this goal, and some useful steps that
have been taken toward that end, including the most recent UN
General Assembly Resolution on landmines, new efforts at demining,
and the extension of the ban on exports.
Rapid progress towards a global ban on anti-personnel landmines
depends upon strong, unambiguous, and convincing U.S. leadership
now. We hope the United States will go beyond the welcome, but
limited steps it has taken thus far.
First, your upcoming decision on U.S. participation in the Ottawa
Process offers a critical opportunity for the United States to
take serious steps toward achieving its stated commitment to negotiate
an effective and verifiable ban without unnecessary delay. We
urge you to join with other nations committed to a global ban
to press ahead in international efforts to advance this objective.
Second, prospects for a global ban could be enhanced if the United
States continues to lead by example. Independent initiatives could
include making permanent the current moratorium on exports, considering
a moratorium or ban on production, and reopening the matter of
a renunciation of use. These and similar actions by the United
States could further the process of stigmatizing these indiscriminate
weapons, which is an essential part of pursuing a global ban.
We understand the complexities of negotiating a verifiable, global
ban on anti-personnel landmines, but we believe that bold action
by the United States on this vital moral question could improve
dramatically prospects for achieving this goal . With strong U.S.
leadership, we can move toward this goal, not for the distant
future but before we begin a new century.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter, and please be
assured of my prayers for you as you prepare once again to take
your oath of office.
Sincerely,
Most Reverend Anthony M. Pilla
Bishop of Cleveland
President, NCCB/USCC