Michael Douglas, an ambassador for the United Nations since 1998, met yesterday with UK foreign secretary Robin Cook in his ongoing appeal for nuclear disarmament. Douglas used the meeting to ask Cook for his support and in turn, that of Prime Minister Tony Blair in raising the issue of nuclear weapons internationally.
The UN is increasingly concerned with the proliferation of nuclear weapons and their potential threat to treaties which serve to protect the world from nuclear power. At London's Houses of Parliament on Monday night the actor told a packed house, "The treaties are in danger of coming apart at a time when more material for making weapons of mass destruction is available world-wide than ever before. The horrific prospect opens up of a world of nuclear anarchy where any feud between countries could degenerate into a death warrant for the entire planet." Explaining his decision to approach Robin Cook, Douglas explained, "Britain is uniquely placed to assume a leadership role: strong influence is required in Washington and as a result of the special relationship between our two countries, the influence of the British is particularly strong. Prime Minister Blair commands great respect. Given the impasse between the US and Russia it is time for another nuclear power to take the initiative."