ASSEMBLY EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN AT IRAQI WITHHOLDING OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS INFORMATION FROM I"A
Press Release
GA/8982
ASSEMBLY EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN AT IRAQI WITHHOLDING OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS INFORMATION FROM IAEA
19951101 Resolution also Notes Continuing Non-Compliance with Safeguards Agreement by Democratic People's Republic of KoreaThe General Assembly this afternoon expressed deep concern that Iraq had since 1991 withheld from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) information about its nuclear weapons programme by adopting a resolution by a vote of 144 in favour to 1 against (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), with 8 abstentions (Cuba, China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Ghana, Sudan, Syria, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam). (For details of the voting, see Annex V.)
The resolution on the IAEA was adopted following the defeat of an amendment proposed by Iraq which called for noting that the Agency's report stated that that country's nuclear-weapon programme had been, for all practical purposes, destroyed, removed or rendered harmless. By the amendment, the Assembly, rather than stressing the need for Iraq to cooperate fully with the Agency, would have stressed the need for Iraq to continue its cooperation with the Agency. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 95 against to 8 in favour (Brunei Darussalem, Cuba, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Sudan), with 22 abstentions. (See Annex I.)
Separate votes were held on three different paragraphs of the draft resolution on the report of the IAEA.
A preambular paragraph by which the Assembly made reference to the inalienable right of States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination was retained by a vote of 128 in favour to 3 against (India, Israel, Saudi Arabia), with 7 abstentions (Cuba, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe). (See Annex II.)
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A preambular paragraph which made reference to several resolutions adopted by the IAEA General Conference was retained by a vote of 121 in favour to none against, with 10 abstentions. (See Annex III)
In addition, the Assembly voted by 128 in favour to none against, with 10 abstentions, to retain the operative paragraph which referred to Iraq's withholding of information from the Agency about its nuclear-weapon programme. (See Annex IV.)
Among the other provisions of the resolution as a whole, the Assembly also expressed concern over the continuing non-compliance of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with the safeguards agreement and urged that country to cooperate fully with the Agency. It appealed to all States to ratify or accede to the Convention on Nuclear Safety.
Statements on the report of the IAEA were made by the representatives of Iran, Belarus, Pakistan, Australia, Romania, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mexico and South Africa. Statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the representatives of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea.
The representative of Iraq introduced his country's amendments to the draft. Speaking in explanation of vote were the representatives of France, India, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, United States, China, Burkina Faso and Israel.
Also this afternoon, the Assembly continued its consideration of a draft resolution on multilingualism. The representative of France introduced a revised version of the draft, by which the Secretary-General would be requested, among other things, to ensure that personnel recruited by the different bodies of the Organization have a command of at least one of the working languages of the Secretariat. The Assembly would stress the need to ensure resources for teaching the official and working languages of the Secretariat.
Following statements on the draft by the representatives of the Russian Federation and Swaziland, the representative of the United States, speaking on a point of order, put forward a motion to adjourn debate on the matter until a later time to allow for further consultations on the draft. That motion was defeated by a vote of 75 against to 70 in favour with 6 abstentions (Belgium, Kazakhstan, Czech Republic, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Yemen). (See Annex VI.)
Speaking in favour of the motion prior to the vote were the representatives of Japan and Fiji, while the representatives of Argentina and France spoke against it.
The General Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 2 November, to take action on the draft resolution on multilingualism. It will also consider the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba, including a draft resolution on that issue.
Assembly Work Programme
The General Assembly met this afternoon to continue discussion of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a related draft resolution. It was also to take up a draft resolution on multilingualism, as well as related amendments. (For background see press release 8980 issued today).
Statements on IAEA Report
KAMAL KHARRAZI (Iran) said it was unfortunate that the IAEA must operate under financial constraints which in turn had adverse effects on some of its important programmes. Member States must meet their financial obligations, and the Agency must strive to achieve cost-effectiveness. Its recent decisions to strengthen cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the safeguards regime were welcome.
"A matter of great concern to Middle Eastern countries is the continued operation of the un-safeguarded, antiquated, and entirely non-peaceful Demona nuclear reactor in Israel", he said. "We call upon the international community and in particular the IAEA to address this problem urgently and effectively." As long as Israel, with full support of certain powers, refused to join the NPT and the IAEA safeguards regime, he continued, the notion of a Middle East nuclear-weapon-free zone would remain a distant goal. The decision of the thirty-eighth session of the General Conference of the IAEA to restore technical assistance to Israel was nothing but "a reward to a nuclear proliferator".
He said Iran appreciated the useful technical cooperation which the Agency extended to Member States in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in such fields as agriculture, industry and medicine. He stressed the importance of continued funding for those activities. However, exceptional cases of violation of IAEA safeguards in the recent past had provided the excuse for certain nuclear-weapon States and some other industrialized countries to undermine the statutory tasks and obligations of the Agency and infringe more than before on the inalienable rights of the parties to the NPT, as stipulated in the Treaty. These, he said, included Iran, whose modest peaceful nuclear activities had always been approved by the Agency.
VALERY TSEPKALA, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belarus, said his country's decision to become a non-nuclear State was reflected in its Constitution. Its ratification of the Strategic Arms Treaty and accession to the NPT as a non-nuclear State constituted further steps in that direction. It had also signed the Agreement on Safeguards with the IAEA.
He emphasized that Belarus had withdrawn tactical nuclear weapons from its territory and created a schedule to withdraw nuclear strategic weapons.
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It also intends to follow obligations under the Safeguards Agreement with the Agency.
In the light of its economic difficulties, Belarus appreciated the assistance provided by the IAEA as well as by some countries. Belarus was working out a project to create a reliable system of physical protection of nuclear material and would be grateful for help in its implementation.
In 1996 the tenth anniversary of the Chernobyl accident would be marked. While the Agency had assisted in collecting precise information on the incidence of thyroid cancers among children in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, the report did not contain the results of that effort. A number of conferences next year would consider problems caused by that catastrophe. His country was interested in seeing as broad a level of participation in those meetings as possible.
While the Agency had substantially increased its technical assistance to Belarus in past years, a greater effort was needed since the country lacked any nuclear energy facility and its people had fallen victim to the effects of the Chernobyl disaster.
MIAN GHULAM MOHAMMAD AHMAD KHAN MANEKA (Pakistan) said nuclear power offered a resource-conserving, environmentally benign and financially feasible source of energy, and in this context, Pakistan welcomed the IAEA Director General's reference to a strengthened programme on comparative assessment of energy sources for electricity generation. He urged all Member States to pay their contributions in the area of technical cooperation fully and on time, in order to facilitate the implementation of the Agency's programme.
Proposed measures to strengthen the safeguards should be technologically feasible, cost-effective and non-intrusive, he said. His country appreciated the work done on the "93 plus 2 Programme", but believed that that important issue should be thoroughly examined and extensively discussed with the Member States to achieve consensus on its legal, technical and economic aspects.
The success of the Convention on Nuclear Safety would depend in large measure on the implementation of provisions related to cooperation between the industrially advanced countries and the developing countries. Concerning the transfer of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, he said that, unfortunately, restrictions had been imposed when it was evident that no proliferation dangers were involved. At times, even safety-related information had been refused. That approach was not conducive to the evolution of safer techniques and methods or to the promotion of greater openness and transparency in the field of nuclear technology.
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RICHARD BUTLER (Australia) said he strongly supported the draft resolution on the report of the IAEA. Australia's support for the Agency was second to none. The draft resolution before the Assembly highlighted the importance of the Agency's work on safeguards, technical assistance, nuclear safety, radiological protection, radioactive waste management and others.
He said his country had also been actively involved in and strongly supported the Agency's "93 plus 2 Programme" of safeguards; he hoped the second phase of that programme would soon be moved forward.
He regretted it was again necessary for the draft to record the non- compliance of Iraq and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with their safeguards agreements under the NPT. He urged them to cooperate fully with the IAEA.
He said technical cooperation was a central element of the Agency's work. It was also a means of providing developing countries access to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Australia had long supported this aspect of the IAEA's activities and welcomed the measures being introduced to improve and strengthen their effectiveness.
DUMITRU MAZILU (Romania) said one of the most important tasks facing the IAEA was strengthening the safeguards regime. The Agency has promoted critical measures in the area of nuclear safety, culminating with the adoption of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, which Romania had already ratified.
He said the Agency must do more in the region affected by the Chernobyl accident. Every effort should be made to enhance the safety of existing reactors, while ensuring that new ones were installed under safe conditions. Everything possible must be done to guarantee full protection of members of the public from exposure to radioactive materials, and to prevent every possible incident that may give rise to potential exposure. Regional and international cooperation was important in carrying out the Agency's work, in promoting the use of nuclear energy, and in applying measures to strengthen the safety of nuclear installations.
SIMEON A. ADEKANYE (Nigeria) said the Technical Cooperation Programme's new partnership with recipient countries should be vigorously pursued, even as the model project concept was extended to many more developing countries. His Government believed that would enhance the impact of projects, as well as increase public awareness of the benefits of the non-military applications of nuclear energy. He welcomed the new initiatives to use the institutions of developing countries in the implementation of selected technical-cooperation projects. The primary goals should remain the strengthening of Member States' capacity, regional development and cooperation among developing countries themselves.
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The decision of to increase funding for the Technical Cooperation Programme would only have the desired practical effect if it was backed by a firm commitment to provide the requisite resources, he said. Such support was particularly essential to the countries in the African region that cooperated under the aegis of the African Regional Agreement. Further, a credible, non- discriminatory verification system, implemented with vigour, was invaluable to peace and security. He trusted, therefore, that Member States would maintain the current momentum for reform and improvement, so as to retain the confidence of the international community in the safeguards system as a whole.
He said the determination of the international community to confront the new menace of illicit trafficking in nuclear material should not detract from the need to maintain vigilance over the dumping of radioactive waste and other highly toxic substances in the territories of developing countries. Also, reform of the Board of Governors should be based on the principles of equitable geographical distribution, transparency, accountability, effectiveness and efficiency. In particular, it should address the current underrepresentation of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
YURIY FEDOTOV (Russian Federation) said his country would make all possible efforts to implement the decisions taken by the recent NPT Review and Extension Conference. The nuclear arms race had been stopped and was being reversed. The nuclear arsenals of Russia and the United States were being reduced. Russia favoured the elaboration of a comprehensive test-ban treaty, which would strengthen the non-proliferation regime. "The new democratic Russia", he said, "has not carried out a single explosion and has abided by the moratorium which it declared." President Yeltsin had called for the convening of a summit on nuclear safety which could address such issues as nuclear waste. The IAEA could make a significant contribution to preparations for such a meeting.
Russia had unswervingly given priority to enhancing the IAEA safeguards system, he said. It would continue to cooperate closely with the Agency and render assistance in that effort. The Agency's technical cooperation programmes were of utmost importance. Despite Russia's economic difficulties, it had allocated 5.7 billion rubles to the fund for technical assistance. Efforts should be made to strengthen the safety of the existing nuclear facilities in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Russia was working to modernize its facilities, and favoured a broad exchange of information on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
PAK GIL YON (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said it was regrettable that the report of the IAEA had once again referred to the "nuclear issue" on the Korean peninsula in a biased, subjective and unjustified manner that disregarded the actual reality. That issue was not a matter to be considered at the United Nations, but was a serious political and military issue to be settled bilaterally between his country and the United
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States. Previous discussions at the United Nations had never facilitated solutions, but had created complexity and obstacles to resolving the issue. The issue was being efficiently resolved between his country and the United States in accordance with their Agreed Framework of October, 1994.
He said the Framework stipulated that the United States provide the light water reactor in return for his country's freeze of nuclear facilities, and that his country would implement the safeguards agreement only when provided with the light water reactor. Accordingly, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had frozen the nuclear facility and stopped construction of the 50 and 200 megawatt reactors, and had accepted 10 additional inspector designations and other conditions ensuring the monitoring of the facilities covered by the freeze.
He said that and other acts of compliance with the IAEA clearly indicated his country's full implementation of the Agreed Framework with the United States. At talks on implementation held last June, the United States had reaffirmed its commitment to take full responsibility for providing his country a light water reactor on a turn-key basis and interim energy alternatives in return for a freeze on nuclear facilities.
He said working negotiations on those matters were now under way. Despite positive developments towards the final resolution of the so-called `"nuclear issue" on the Korean peninsula', certain Member States and officials of the IAEA Secretariat were still resorting to the meaningless argument about the "nuclear issue". They were trying to use it to create an atmosphere of pressure against his country, deliberately turning away from the reality that the issue was being resolved smoothly. He was very concerned that that would cast a dark shadow over ongoing negotiations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization.
He said complete implementation of the agreement with the United States constituted a precondition to implementation of the safeguards agreement. Therefore, urging his country to comply with those safeguards at this stage would only reveal a camouflaged attempt to abuse the "nuclear issue" for political purposes. He hoped the world would correctly understand the situation and contribute to the implementation of the Agreed Framework, which would eventually lead to the final resolution of the nuclear issue.
ANTONIO DE ICAZA (Mexico) said his country had always supported the work done by the IAEA on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It was concerned that the Agency's safeguarding and verification activities were being given priority at the expense of cooperation and technological assistance, which should not be relegated to secondary status. A better balance of activities was indispensable, given the needs of developing countries in the areas of energy, human health, environment and agriculture.
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He said Member States from Latin America and the Caribbean were making progress toward that region becoming the first part of the world free from nuclear weapons. Mexico welcomed the beginning of preparations for a Convention on Radioactive Wastes. Given the binding nature of the "93 plus 2 Programme", it was important to determine and define the terms and scope of the Agency's work in that area.
NOZIPHO DISEKO (South Africa) urged adoption of the draft resolution on the IAEA. She said South Africa, after rolling back its nuclear weapons programme, had been keen to ensure the strengthening of the NPT for the benefit of all humanity, so as to advance towards a nuclear weapons free world. The role of the IAEA in verifying and assessing compliance with safeguards was a vital component in the success of the treaty.
She said she wished to repeat her country's grave concern at the resumption and continuation of nuclear testing by certain countries, and called on the parties to cease nuclear testing immediately.
South Africa had been designated as the member for Africa on the IAEA Governing Board after an absence of 17 years, she noted. It looked forward to playing an active role. It particularly supported the Agency's programme to strengthen the effectiveness and to improve the efficiency of the safeguards system. Given developments in Iraq, it had become apparent that such strengthening was essential. She also emphasized South Africa's desire to see the Agency continue to devote all available resources to providing technical assistance to the developing world.
Introduction of Amendment
SAEED H. HASAN (Iraq), introducing his amendment to the draft, said the draft did not fairly reflect the cooperative relationship between Iraq and the IAEA, nor the real stage of advancement of the Agency's work with regard to Security Council resolutions on Iraq. The reason behind this was political, and was linked with efforts to continue, perhaps indefinitely, the sanctions regime against Iraq.
The amendment said the draft should note that the Agency's recent report had stated that "of the information which has been reviewed and analyzed to date, nothing suggests that a change is warranted in the IAEA's conclusion that Iraq's nuclear-weapon programme has been, for all practical purposes, destroyed, removed or rendered harmless". That was said to accord with the statement made by IAEA Director-General Hans Blix to the Assembly this morning.
Also by the amendment, the Assembly, rather than stressing the need for Iraq to cooperate fully with the Agency, would stress the need for Iraq to
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continue its cooperation with the Agency. It was hoped that those amendments would be considered positively by the Assembly.
Action on IAEA Draft and Related Amendments
The draft resolution and related amendments were then put to the vote.
El Salvador, Latvia and the Russian Federation joined in sponsoring the text.
HERVE LADSOUS (France) said a paragraph of the draft resolution made reference to a resolution adopted on 22 September 1995 relative to nuclear tests. France had declared that it could not support the judgement contained in this resolution. Therefore, the French delegation would abstain from voting on this paragraph and had not co-sponsored the resolution. But it would like to reaffirm its full support for the IAEA.
P.V. KUMAR (India) said India, out of support for the Agency, could go along with the draft as a whole. However, the language in the draft's preambular portion linked adherence to the NPT with the freedom to develop research, produce and use nuclear energy. Under its Statute, the Agency was mandated to encourage unfettered access by Member States to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy without any discrimination whatsoever. "The NPT is a separate instrument, and cannot be used to create a differential between members of the Agency", he said. By inferring that adherence to the NPT, on which India's views were well-known, had a bearing on access to peaceful uses of atomic energy, the draft deviated from the objectives enshrined in the Statute. India called for a vote on preambular paragraph four.
PAK GIL YON (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), speaking in explanation of vote before the vote, said the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula was a political and military issue which could only be resolved bilaterally between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States. In the past the IAEA had in fact hindered rather than helped its resolution.
He said the draft resolution before the Assembly was an attempt to turn away from the realities, and was an attempt to disregard the Democratic People's Republic of Korea-United States Framework Agreement. How could the safeguards be complied with when the Framework called for compliance after full completion of the Framework?
The draft resolution revealed the ulterior motives of certain co- sponsors to use the United Nations for other purposes. Any attempt to pressure the Democratic People's Republic of Korea would not go down with his country. It gave the impression that the IAEA and the Security Council were
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opposed to the resolution of the matter. Therefore, his country would vote against the draft resolution.
LANE KIRKLAND (United States) said the Iraqi amendment attempted to turn around completely the facts about Iraq's programme. The words "cooperation" and "cooperate" did not appear a single time in the IAEA's report on Iraq. Iraq had been forced to admit that it concealed large amounts of information, including the fact that it had violated Security Council resolutions and that it continued to conceal information. He urged all to vote against the amendment.
Action on Iraq's Proposed Amendment
The proposed amendment on operative paragraph 7 was then put to the vote.
(The amendment calls for inserting the following into the draft: "notes in paragraph 13 of the Agency's report of 6 October 1995 to the Security Council [S/1995/844, annex, appendix] that `of the information which has been reviewed and analyzed to date, nothing suggests that a change is warranted in the IAEA's conclusion that Iraq's nuclear-weapon programme has been, for all practical purposes, destroyed, removed or rendered harmless.'" By the amendment, the Assembly, rather than stressing the need for Iraq to cooperate fully with the Agency, would stress the need for Iraq to continue its cooperation with the Agency.)
The amendment was defeated by a vote of 95 against to 8 in favour (Brunei Darussalem, Cuba, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Sudan), with 22 abstentions. (For details of the voting, see Annex I.)
Next, a vote was held on the fourth preambular paragraph of the draft.
Preambular paragraph four reads as follows: "Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency in promoting the further application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, as envisaged in its statute and in accordance with the inalienable right of States parties to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and other relevant internationally legally binding agreements that have concluded relevant safeguards agreements with the Agency to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II of the Treaty, other relevant articles and with the objectives and purposes of the Treaty,")
The Assembly voted to retain the fourth preambular paragraph by a vote of 128 in favour to 3 against (India, Israel, Saudi Arabia), with 7
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abstentions (Cuba, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Pakistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe). (See Annex II.)
Then a vote was held on the eleventh preambular paragraph of the text, which would have the Assembly bear in mind several resolutions adopted by the General Conference. By a vote of in favour 121 to none against, with 10 abstentions, the Assembly voted to retain preambular paragraph eleven. (See Annex III.)
Operative paragraph seven was then put to a vote. It reads as follows: "Also commends the Director General of the Agency and his staff for their strenuous efforts in the implementation of Security Council resolutions 687 (1991) of 3 April, 707 (1991) of 15 August and 715 (1991) of 11 October 1991, expresses deep concern that Iraq has, since 1991, withheld from the Agency information about its nuclear-weapon programme in violation of its obligations under Security Council resolutions 687 (1991), 707 (1991) and 715 (1991), and stresses the need for Iraq to cooperate fully with the Agency in achieving the complete implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions."
The Assembly voted to retain operative paragraph seven by a vote of 128 in favour to none against, with 10 abstentions. (See Annex IV.)
The entire draft resolution on the report of the IAEA was then put to a vote. By a vote of 144 in favour to 1 against (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), with 8 abstentions (Cuba, China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Ghana, Sudan, Syria, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam), the resolution on the report of the IAEA was adopted. (See Annex V.)
Speaking in explanation of vote after the vote, WU CHENJIANG (China) said the resolution should not have included references against certain countries. China had abstained on the resolution, but that action had been without prejudice to how China viewed the Agency's activities.
Mr. HASAN (Iraq) said his country had lost its right to vote in the Assembly for reasons beyond its control, namely the embargo imposed against it by the Security Council and the subsequent freezing of its assets. Had it had the right to vote, Iraq would have abstained on the resolution as a whole.
MAMADOU SERME (Burkina Faso) said he had voted against the proposed amendment.
YEHIEL YATIV (Israel) his country supported the resolution in its entirety but held firm to the position that the Agency should support any country's efforts to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes, regardless of whether or not it was a party to the NPT. For that reason, it had opposed the relevant portions of the text.
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PAK GIL YON (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), speaking in explanation of vote after the vote, said the representative of South Korea had defined the Agreed Framework of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States as a device to induce his country to agree with the safeguards regime of the IAEA. It would be useful to educate him about the agreement on the Korean peninsula.
The Agreed Framework between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States clearly stipulated the conditions to be carried out prior to compliance with the IAEA. In this regard, he advised the Republic of Korea spokesman to read carefully the statement from this morning of the representative of the United States. By such statements, South Koreans only revealed their true intentions. They should bear in mind that the dogs bark, but the train moves on.
PARK SOO GIL (Republic of Korea), speaking in right of reply, said that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had put forward the Agreed Framework as the reason for its non-compliance with the IAEA safeguards. He had no doubt that the bilateral agreements were important. But those bilateral agreements had importance as they would strengthen or weaken the global nuclear safeguards regime. They could not substitute for or detract from obligations to multilateral agreements.
He said that as long as the IAEA safeguards had force, then North Korea was obliged to comply with them. When it did not, that was a case of non- compliance. His country therefore registered its concern and urged it to enter in full compliance.
PAK GIL YON (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), in right of reply, said the representative of the Republic of Korea should read the text of the Framework Agreement between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States. Compliance with the IAEA safeguards were worthless if carried out outside that Framework.
Draft Resolution on Multilingualism
HERVE LADSOUS (France) introduced the revised draft resolution on multilingualism. He said the only paragraph that differed from the original was operative paragraph three. The co-sponsors had striven to take into account as much as possible the concerns expressed by certain delegations, particularly within the Asian group. Five co-sponsors had been added: Afghanistan, Cape Verde, China, Kazakhstan and the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
EVGUENI N. DEINEKO (Russian Federation) said that in the past the United Nations had been able to find a balance between cultural and linguist
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diversity and the need for the Organization to work efficiently. The legally consecrated principle of the equality of the official and working languages, which had stood the test of time, must be reaffirmed.
S.M. SHONGWE (Swaziland) said the draft resolution sought to outlaw some of the qualified Members of the United Nations. Questions related to multilingualism were not responsible for the failures and successes of the Organization; instead, unity of purpose had been paramount. The resolution purported to create a split between Member States when the unity of Member States was essential.
LANE KIRKLAND (United States), speaking on a point of order, said further time was needed to seek to achieve consensus on the draft resolution. As a multicultural society, the United States fully appreciated the need for multilingualism and looked forward to adopting a text by consensus on the issue. However, the present text contained ambiguities, and it was a matter of regret that there had not been enough time to discuss the matter further. Portions of the text caused problems because they deviated from other Assembly resolutions. Any such revision must first be given due consideration by the Assembly's appropriate Committee. That important step has been skipped.
Such concerns could be met through consultations which could result in a consensus text, he continued. If forced to consider the text today, the United States would vote against it, but would strongly prefer that time be given to those who had problems with the text to reach consensus. He then moved under Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure to defer consideration of the issue to a future meeting. (According to Rule 74, during the discussion of any matter, a representative may move the adjournment of debate on the item under discussion. Besides that representative, two persons may speak in favour and two against the motion, after which the motion shall be immediately put to a vote.)
YUJI KUMAMARU (Japan) said the draft resolution was of great importance. Japan supported cultural diversity and believed that multilingualism was important to that effort. Numerous cultures were not associated with the six official languages, and there should not be undue discrimination against them. Fair treatment of those people would encourage cultural diversity. As it stood, the draft would penalize those whose mother tongue was not one of the six official languages. The revised draft did not meet Japan's concerns. Careful consideration of the text would contribute to its improvement and successful adoption by consensus. There had been no real consultation so far, and he supported the proposal put forward by the United States.
POSECI BUNE (Fiji) supported deferring consideration of the item with a view to holding consultations that would lead to the adoption of a consensus text. Additional foreign languages should not be imposed on nationals from States whose mother tongue was not one of the official languages of the United
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Nations. Perhaps the use of languages in the Secretariat could be improved, but not in the manner outlined in the draft, which deliberately discriminated against nationals whose mother tongue was not one of the official languages. The matter should further be considered in the Fifth Committee, since it contained administrative and budgetary considerations. Fiji supported the motion put forward by the United States.
SILVIA A. FERNANDEZ DE GURMENDI (Argentina) said the draft was similar to the original version which had been introduced nearly two weeks ago. Since then, concern had been expressed about one of its provisions. In response to those concerns, the revised version of the draft had been put forward. The process of consultation that had been conducted so far could be viewed as complete. The motion to defer the decision on the question should be rejected.
Mr. LADSOUS (France) joined Argentina in opposing the motion to defer action. He said France had long been conducting consultations on the text. All requests for amendments which had been in keeping with the legitimate concerns of States had been reflected in the revised draft. Additional consultations would not be likely to improve it. The proposal seemed to be an attempt to bury the draft so deeply that it would only emerge, if at all, in an unrecognizable form. The aim behind the motion, he said, was to endorse "a monolingual trend" in the United Nations. He urged all present to vote against the request for adjournment.
The motion to adjourn the debate on multilingualism until a later date was then put to a vote.
By a vote of 75 against to 70 in favour with 6 abstentions (Belgium, Kazakhstan, Czech Republic, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Yemen), the motion to adjourn the debate on multilingualism was defeated. (See Annex VI.)
Owing to the lateness of the hour, it was decided that consideration of the issue would continue tomorrow morning.
(annexes follow)
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ANNEX I
Vote on Amendment to Seventh Operative Paragraph of IAEA Text
The amendment proposed by Iraq to operative paragraph 7 of the draft resolution on the report of the IAEA (document A/50/L.11) was rejected by a recorded vote of 8 in favour to 95 against, with 22 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Sudan.
Against: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia.
Abstaining: Bangladesh, Botswana, Burundi, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Mauritius, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dpr of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Oman, Palau, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX I)
General Assembly Plenary - 15 - Press Release GA/8982 47th Meeting (PM) 1 November 1995
ANNEX II
Vote on Fourth Preambular Paragraph of IAEA Text
The Assembly decided to retain the fourth preambular paragraph of the draft resolution on the report of the IAEA (document A/50/L.11) by a recorded vote of 128 in favour to 3 against, with 7 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia.
Against: India, Israel, Saudi Arabia.
Abstaining: Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Pakistan, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Palau, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX II)
General Assembly Plenary - 16 - Press Release GA/8982 47th Meeting (PM) 1 November 1995
ANNEX III
Vote on Eleventh Preambular Paragraph of IAEA Text
The Assembly decided to retain the eleventh preambular paragraph of the IAEA text (document A/50/L.11) by a recorded vote of 121 in favour to 0 against, with 10 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: None.
Abstaining: Cambodia, China, Cote d'Ivoire, France, Gabon, Monaco, Sudan, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam.
Absent: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Oman, Palau, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX III)
General Assembly Plenary - 17 - Press Release GA/8982 47th Meeting (PM) 1 November 1995
ANNEX IV
Vote on Seventh Operative Paragraph of IAEA Text
The Assembly voted to retain operative paragraph 7 of the IAEA text (document A/50/L.11) by a recorded vote of 128 in favour of 0 against, with 10 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia.
Against: None.
Abstaining: China, Cuba, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libya, Pakistan, Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cape Verde, Congo, Dominica, Dpr of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX IV)
General Assembly Plenary - 18 - Press Release GA/8982 47th Meeting (PM) 1 November 1995
ANNEX V
Vote on Report of IAEA
The draft resolution on the report of the IAEA (document A/50/L.11) was adopted by a recorded vote of 144 in favour to 1 against, with 8 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Abstaining: China, Cuba, Ghana, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Sudan, Syria, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam.
Absent: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Cape Verde, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malawi, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX V)
General Assembly Plenary - 19 - Press Release GA/8982 47th Meeting (PM) 1 November 1995
ANNEX VI
Vote on Motion to Adjourn Multilingualism Debate
The motion to adjourn the debate on multilingualism was defeated by a recorded vote of 70 in favour to 75 against, with 6 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Croatia, Cyprus, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam.
Abstaining: Belgium, Czech Republic, Kazakstan, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Yemen.
Absent: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Dpr of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Zaire.
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