RESOLUTIONS ON NUCLEAR TESTING, ARMS TRANSPARENCY, DISARMAMENT WEEK AMONG MEASURES INTRODUCED IN FIRST COMMITTEE

7 November 1995

Press Release
GA/DIS/3033

RESOLUTIONS ON NUCLEAR TESTING, ARMS TRANSPARENCY, DISARMAMENT WEEK AMONG MEASURES INTRODUCED IN FIRST COMMITTEE

19951107 Debate Focuses on Text Calling for Nuclear Testing Halt

The General Assembly would call for a halt of nuclear testing, support establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia, promote the objectives of Disarmament Week and recommend measures to encourage transparency in armaments, by the terms of draft resolutions introduced this morning in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

Debate this morning focused primarily on the draft on nuclear testing. Many speakers expressed great concern over the resumption of testing by two nuclear-weapon States and called for support of the text.

By the text on nuclear testing, the Assembly would express deep concern about the potential negative effects of underground nuclear testing on health and the environment. It would strongly deplore all current nuclear testing, and strongly urge the immediate cessation of all such tests.

The Assembly, by another text, would urge the States of South Asia to continue to make all possible efforts to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region, and to refrain from any action contrary to that objective. The Secretary-General would report at the next session of the Assembly on consultations with States of the region which will have explored ways of furthering the goal of a nuclear-free zone.

The text on transparency in armaments would have the Assembly call upon Member States to provide data for the Register of Conventional Arms on their imports and exports of arms, as well as on their military holdings and procurement. It would ask the Secretary-General to ensure that sufficient resources were made available for the operation and maintenance of the Register.

By another text, the Assembly would invite governments and international and national non-governmental organizations to continue taking an active part in the Disarmament Week. It would invite the Secretary-General to continue using United Nations information organs to promote better understanding among the world public of disarmament problems and the aims of the Week.

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The text on nuclear testing was introduced by Mexico. The text on the South Asia zone was introduced by Pakistan. Mongolia introduced the draft resolution on Disarmament Week and on the regional centre for peace in Asia. The text on transparency was introduced by the Netherlands.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Papua New Guinea, Japan, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, New Zealand, Ecuador, Brazil, Fiji, Samoa, Marshall Islands, Singapore, Peru, Chile, Federated States of Micronesia, South Africa, France, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, Gabon and Belarus.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. to continue its consideration of draft resolutions on disarmament.

Committee Work Programme

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this morning to continue its consideration of draft resolutions and decisions on disarmament. It had before it texts on a halt to nuclear testing, establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia, and Disarmament Week.

A 27-Power draft resolution calling for a halt to nuclear testing was before the Committee (document A/C.1/50/L.3). "Deeply concerned about the potential negative effects of underground nuclear testing on health and the environment", the text would commend those nuclear-weapon States observing nuclear testing moratoria. In an expression of "shared alarm", the States would strongly deplore all current nuclear testing, and strongly urge the immediate cessation of all nuclear testing.

The draft is sponsored by Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa and Uruguay.

By a draft resolution proposed by Bangladesh and Pakistan on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia (document A/C.1/50/L.6), the Assembly would urge once again the States of South Asia to continue to make all possible efforts to establish such a zone and to refrain from any action contrary to that objective. By the provisions of the draft, the Secretary-General would report to the Assembly at its fifty-first session on consultations with States of the region intended to explore the best possibilities of furthering the efforts for the establishment of a nuclear free zone. The text would have the Assembly include the item in its fifty- first session.

Under the terms of a 21-Power draft resolution on Disarmament Week (document A/C.1/50/L.16), the Assembly would invite Governments and international and national non-governmental organizations to continue taking an active part in the Week. It would invite the Secretary-General to continue using United Nations information organs to promote better understanding among the world public of disarmament problems and the aims of the Week. It would invite all States that so desire, in carrying out measures at the local level for the Week, to take account of elements of the model programme prepared by the Secretary-General (document A/34/436).

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The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, China, Costa Rica, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Samoa, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Viet Nam.

Statements

ANTONIO DE ICAZA (Mexico) introduced the draft resolution on a halt to nuclear testing (document A/C.1/50/L.3). He said there were no obvious truths but there were obvious absurdities. It was an obvious absurdity to claim that the constant artificial shaking of the planet had never had and would never have an effect on the environment. Citing the current nuclear tests in the South Pacific, he said the concern about the effects of nuclear testing was well justified. The continued conducting of those tests was not compatible with commitments entered into at the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The testing of nuclear weapons must be brought to an immediate halt.

SOHRAB KHERADI, Committee Secretary, announced additional co-sponsors to the draft text on a halt to nuclear testing: Botswana Maldives, Panama, Paraguay, Thailand and Ukraine.

UTULA U. SAMANA (Papua New Guinea), speaking on behalf of the South Pacific Forum countries, expressed support for the draft resolution. Nuclear testing in any part of the world was a backward step, ran contrary to the letter and spirit of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and violated the trust between non-nuclear-weapon and nuclear-weapon parties to the Treaty. "There is no such thing as a safe nuclear test." The slightest accident could be and would be fatal to the health of the people, present and future.

A vote for the resolution was a vote against arrogance and myopic parochialism, he said. It was a vote against the abuse of political power against humanity. It was a vote against irrationality. It was also a vote for peace, confidence, tolerance, environmental protection and humanity.

HISAMI KUROKOCHI (Japan) said that the current nuclear testing was extremely disturbing, and it was of vital importance for the international community to pursue the immediate cessation of all such tests. It was crucial that the General Assembly adopt resolution A/C.1/50/L.3 with wide support. The purpose of the draft was not to condemn any particular country but to express opposition against all nuclear testing. Some countries had expressed concern that such a resolution might produce a negative effect on the comprehensive test-ban treaty negotiations. On the contrary, those negotiations would move forward with early conclusion and with good results. According to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) principles and objectives, the nuclear weapon States should exercise

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restraint. Current nuclear testing was not a demonstration of restraint, but of less restraint following the NPT Review and Extension Conference. International solidarity against nuclear testing must be demonstrated.

RICHARD STARR (Australia) said his Government's position on nuclear testing was unequivocal; it must end and it must end now. The message of the resolution was simple and direct -- it was strongly deplored and its immediate cessation was urged. Nuclear testing flew in the face of international opinion, the post-cold war disarmament agenda and the political commitments made by parties to the NPT Review Conference. Such tests also raised unacceptable concerns in the environment, particularly in the fragile marine environment where France conducted its tests. The Chinese Government tested almost before the ink was dry on the NPT decision and soon after, France announced its intention to conduct eight tests at the rate of about one a month. The cessation of nuclear testing could only assist efforts towards the objective of a nuclear-free world.

PENGIRAN ABDUL MOMIN (Brunei Darussalam) said that, when the NPT Review Conference was concluded, much trust was placed on conclusion of the CTBT -- which was of the highest priority in terms of halting the nuclear arms race and achieving nuclear disarmament. There was no need for nuclear tests to be carried out. Such actions were not consistent with the undertakings by nuclear weapon States at the NPT Review Conference. An immediate end to the tests would support nuclear disarmament. Their continuation would provide a terrible climate for the conclusion of the CTBT negotiations.

COLIN KEATING (New Zealand) said decisions taken at the NPT Review Conference had laid the foundations for a new international security regime. All parties had reiterated the ultimate goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. All committed themselves to the completion of a comprehensive test ban treaty no later than next year. However, China subsequently exploded a nuclear device and France resumed testing in the South Pacific. Real alarm had been expressed at the new spate of testing. South Pacific leaders had expressed extreme outrage and called for such testing to stop immediately.

The testing programmes had been resumed in disregard of commitments entered into at the NPT Conference, he said. At that Conference, they agreed to exercise utmost restraint. It had been said there was no legal obligation incurred at the Conference. "We believe that argument is disingenuous and mischievous." What was incurred were solemn political undertakings. The word restraint means "holding back from something one would otherwise do". When that was qualified by the word "utmost", it could only be interpreted to mean that no further testing would take place, pending conclusion of the comprehensive test ban. Nuclear test explosions were deplorable and must cease immediately. He called on all States to support the draft resolution.

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EMILIO IZQUIERDO (Ecuador) said his country repudiated nuclear tests, which represented steps towards the vertical proliferation of nuclear weapons and threatened the environment. The heads of State and Government of the Rio Group had rejected the resumption of nuclear tests by China and France. They emphatically appealed for the suspension of all nuclear tests, in order to promote a comprehensive and verifiable ban of all nuclear tests. He called on States to support the draft resolution.

JOSE EDUARDO MARTINS FELICIO (Brazil) said his country had joined in condemning the nuclear tests, and commended those countries which continued to observe a nuclear moratorium. Nuclear test explosions should stop immediately. Brazil was therefore co-sponsoring the draft resolution. Insisting on carrying out nuclear tests went against the general trend towards disarmament. A large number of States were expected to support the text.

FHIRCHINJAV UMJAV (Mongolia) expressed firm belief in the complete cessation of nuclear testing and the conclusion of a comprehensive test-ban treaty at an early date. However, it was with deep regret that two nuclear weapon States had chosen to disregard their own commitments undertaken at the NPT Review Conference to exercise utmost restraint. Mongolia fully subscribed to the draft resolution for the immediate cessation of all nuclear testing. Some of those tests were being conducted in the vicinity of the Mongolian borders. Two nuclear weapons States must heed the demand of the international community and stop tests immediately.

In introducing the draft resolution on Disarmament Week (document A/C.1/50/L.16), he went on to say that the event had substantially contributed to increasing the public's awareness and support for the disarmament process. A report of the Secretary-General and special meetings of the First Committee had once again proven that the international community continued to rely on Disarmament Week as a measure to promote disarmament and to inform the broad public about such issues.

He introduced the draft resolution on the Regional Centre for Peace and Development in Asia in Kathmandu (document A/C.1/50/L.31, not yet published). The co-sponsors reaffirmed their strong support for its continued operation at a time when a regional approach to disarmament was emphasized. The other regional centres in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean also were important to the promotion of regional efforts on disarmament, he said.

POSECI W. BUNE (Fiji) said his country, which was co-sponsoring the draft resolution on nuclear testing, rejected such testing in all its forms. Fiji condemned the nuclear testing by France in the Pacific, as well as the testing by China. The current testing by France was poisoning the atmosphere required by the Conference on Disarmament and worked against all efforts towards nuclear non-proliferation. It had undermined the positive role of

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France prior to resumption of such testing. France had defied the will of the people of the South Pacific and of the world, evincing a callous disregard for the opinions of its neighbours.

Fiji urged France to address concerns about the environmental and health risks posed by its continued testing and to provide international access to all relevant scientific data for an independent and comprehensive assessment of the effects of testing. "If the tests are safe, as the French Government claims, what is the need for this cloak of secrecy?" Fiji called on France to immediately end its nuclear testing in the South Pacific. Fiji and the South Pacific would hold France responsible for any adverse impacts on its environment and people as a result of its nuclear testing. He called on States to support the draft resolution.

TUILOMA NERONI SLADE (Samoa) said his country had no hesitation in adding its voice to the draft resolution on nuclear testing. He would have preferred a resolution of stronger language, but in the interest of consensus, he would vote for the draft. The greatest step towards the ultimate goals of complete elimination of nuclear weapons was being jeopardized by some nuclear Powers.

He said that negotiations on the comprehensive test-ban treaty were being threatened by the current round of tests being conducted by the nuclear- weapon States. Testing by France was being carried out "in complete and callous disregard for the health of the people of Polynesia" and for the health of his people in the region of Samoa. The leadership of the Pacific region had been consistent in its condemnation of French testing there. The people of the Pacific, such as those in the Marshall Islands, had been the victims of nuclear testing for some time. A significant body of scientific opinion contradicts France's complacency that there was no danger of underground tests. He strongly condemned and rejected the testing, and called "especially on France to stop immediately and to do so in the face of world- wide and regional condemnation".

MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) introduced the draft resolution on establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia (document A/C.1/50/L.6). He said all the States of the region had made unilateral declarations at the highest levels, pledging themselves not to acquire, develop or manufacture nuclear weapons. What was needed was a sincere effort to transform those pledges into an effective, multilateral non-proliferation regime, as had been done in other parts of the world.

LAURENCE N. EDWARDS (Marshall Islands) associated himself with the statements by Mexico, Papua New Guinea and many others regarding the text on a halt to nuclear testing. Anything less than an immediate cessation of nuclear

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testing by France in the South Pacific was unacceptable. A single nuclear test anywhere was one too many.

ALBERT CHUA (Singapore) said his country had decided to co-sponsor the resolution on nuclear testing only after careful consideration. It was fully committed to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Although consensus was eventually reached at the NPT Review Conference, it was a fragile consensus. "The fact that nuclear tests were conducted immediately after the Conference, and despite widespread international protests, threatens to unravel this consensus", he stated.

In the meantime, it was hoped that all States parties to the NPT would abide by the agreement to work towards the early conclusion of a universal, internationally and effectively verifiable comprehensive test-ban treaty. The two-fold objective of the resolution was to express the international community's call to end nuclear testing and to bring an early conclusion to the comprehensive test-ban treaty. Adoption of the resolution would signal a clear endorsement of the aim of a nuclear-free world.

JULIO OCAMPO (Peru) was convinced that the renewal of nuclear tests contradicted the spirit and cooperation assumed last May when it was decided to extend indefinitely the NPT. Nuclear testing would not benefit negotiations on a comprehensive test-ban treaty and could stimulate a similar attitude in other countries with a nuclear capacity. The tests were a particular risk to people of coastal States, and they contradicted international instruments of environmental principles.

JUAN LARRAIN (Chile), speaking on the text on a halt to nuclear testing, repudiated the current, ongoing nuclear testing. He said the causes which led to the nuclear arms race had been profoundly changed. The threat of nuclear confrontation had been disappearing. The recent tests contravened the logic which had led to the extension of the NPT. Continued testing did not provide more security for the countries carrying out such tests. Rather, it promoted insecurity among other nations. The current tests were inopportune, coming after both States had pledged to exercise utmost restraint with regard to nuclear testing and at a time when efforts are under way to conclude a comprehensive test ban.

EMILIO MUSRASRIK (Federated States of Micronesia) said that the NPT was extended in return for the commitment of utmost restraint by nuclear Powers and supported efforts towards the conclusion of the comprehensive test-ban treaty by next year. Yet just when international efforts seemed to be on the right course of containing the nuclear spectre, "the self-interests of a few to reverse the direction of the disarmament process by conducting nuclear tests in our environment cannot help but cause us to question the real value of the commitments made earlier which gave us hope".

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He said the history of nuclear testing in the Pacific -- tests that were too hazardous to carry out at home -- had chronicled the willingness of some nations to gamble with lives. The Marshall Islands had felt the disastrous effects of nuclear tests. He added, "the national security that a few States may hope to derive from nuclear testing cannot outweigh the certain suffering of many people and the devastation of their homelands and environment".

NOZIPHO J. MXAKATO-DISEKO (South Africa) expressed strong opposition to the current series of nuclear explosions. She strongly urged China and France to end those programmes and to join in the global moratorium on nuclear testing. South Africa commended those States which were observing the moratorium and called for the widest possible support for the draft resolution on a halt to nuclear testing.

JOELLE BOURGOIS (France) said Mexico this morning introduced a draft on nuclear testing. Its current text did not meet the needs of truth and good faith. It did not meet the needs of the moment. France had publicly supported the zero-option nuclear test ban, and was the first of the nuclear- weapon States to do so. France was working relentlessly to ensure conclusion of the comprehensive test ban by 30 June 1996, and possibly before. The current draft resolution did not reflect that date. It indicated that the priorities of the sponsors were in seeking emotional and polemical effects.

It was now time to be realistic, she said. The United Nations should take immediate, applicable measures, instead of launching into rhetoric. Calling for an immediate end to testing was taking an approach that could not be applied. The draft presented possible negative effects to the environment but gave no heed to all the texts by experts at high levels which had concluded the French tests were harmless. The draft indicates that the current tests were not compatible with the commitments undertaken at the 1995 NPT Review Conference. That was false. France had always reserved the right to complete its programme. The text being submitted today would no longer be relevant tomorrow.

R. TAUWHARE (United Kingdom) said he feared that a number of facts had been ignored and distorted by the resolution to halt nuclear testing. One point in the current draft was the assertion that nuclear testing was not consistent with the undertakings of the nuclear-weapon States at the NPT Review Conference. China and France had made clear that its agreement to the NPT Extension was not synonymous with a moratorium on nuclear testing. China had made quite clear at the NPT Conference that it intended to test, and France had reserved its right to do so. The British Government was not under attack on that issue. Yet, he hoped it was possible to stand up and say clearly that the statement that nuclear testing was not consistent with the NPT Review and Extension Conference was simply not true.

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JONG MOO CHOI (Republic of Korea) said he was strongly opposed to all forms of nuclear proliferation and was concerned that the current round of nuclear testing was likely to weaken the commitment by some States parties in the wake of the extension of the NPT. It was undeniable that the nuclear- weapon States benefited more than others from those tests. But they needed to set an example by exercising utmost restraint, if only to strengthen the integrity of the global regime. It was time to move on to the conclusion of the comprehensive test-ban treaty and to embark on nuclear disarmament starting with a cut-off treaty. In that context, he said that "testing ran counter to the rising expectations of mankind to live in a world free of nuclear weapons". The resolution would strengthen the cause of nuclear non- proliferation and disarmament.

Ms. KUROKOCHI (Japan) said Japan attached importance to the regional centre at Kathmandu. It had therefore decided to become a co-sponsor of draft resolution L.31 and hoped it would enjoy the widest support possible.

RICHARD STARR (Australia) said he wished to clarify the views of Australian scientists regarding testing in the South Pacific. Those scientists had stated that information was inadequate and that they could not declare the long-term effects of testing on the atoll environment. They made the point that access was less than complete. In those circumstances, the concerns of States in the region were eminently reasonable. It was therefore appropriate for the draft resolution to express concern about potential damage to the environment and health from continued testing.

JAAP RAMAKER (Netherlands) introduced the draft resolution on transparency in armaments (document A/C.1/50/L.18) and gave an update on the operation of the Register on Conventional Arms. He said participation in the Register could and should be improved. A growing number of States agreed that the Register would become more useful if it were expanded to include military stocks and procurement from national production.

[The 79-Power draft on transparency in armaments would call upon Member States to provide data for the Register of Conventional Arms on their imports and exports of arms, as well as on information regarding their military holdings and procurement. All Member States would be asked to cooperate in efforts aimed at increased openness and transparency in armaments. Further provisions of the text would have the Secretary-General ensure that sufficient resources were made available for the operation and maintenance of the Register. The Secretary-General would also be asked to report on the progress of the implementation of the resolution at the next session of the General Assembly, which would include the item in its provisional agenda.

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The draft is sponsored by Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.]

Mr. DE ICAZA (Mexico), clarifying the draft resolution on nuclear testing which he had introduced, said that at no time did the resolution state that nuclear underground tests were without any doubt and with all certainty a danger to health and environment. The resolution said that there was concern about the possible effects. It could not be denied that such a concern existed. The concern was a fact, and was entirely in keeping with truth and good faith.

Commenting on the resolution's point that carrying out tests was not consistent with commitments by nuclear-weapon States in the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, he stressed that the text did not say that it was a violation; it said it was "not consistent". That was a matter of interpretation, not a matter of incontrovertible truth or good faith. In addition, the resolution did not say that comprehensive test-ban treaty negotiations could not be concluded; it said that it was convinced the cessation of nuclear tests would create a favorable climate for such negotiations. The resolution requested the immediate halt of all nuclear tests and deplored what was happening. No delegation here could assure us that at the same time next year there would not be any nuclear Powers carrying out any nuclear tests. He added that the co-sponsors were not failing in their duty to the truth or good faith; others were lacking in that regard.

ANNETTE-ANDREE ONANGA (Gabon) said of the resolution calling for transparency in armaments that, although his country was not a co-sponsor of it, it would certainly support the resolution. However, it should be emphasized that the expansion of the Register should not only take into account existing stocks and productions in weapon-producing States, but should be extended to cover other categories of stocks. It was pointed out at a recent seminar on the Register that certain States were not participants in the Register partly because the categories did not concern all States of the African region. The concept of expansion should not apply solely to existing stocks.

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ALEG LAPTSENAK (Belarus) said there was a need to expand transparency in armaments. Belarus regularly submitted information to the Register and called on all States to support the draft resolution.

Mr. KHERADI, Committee Secretary, read out an updated list of co- sponsors to draft resolutions. Among them, Bhutan became an additional sponsor of the text on nuclear testing (L.3); Kenya and Kazakstan became co- sponsors of the text on Disarmament Week (L.16); and Armenia and Costa Rica became co-sponsors of the text on transparency in armaments (L.18).

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