TEXTS ON WIDE RANGE OF DISARMAMENT ISSUES INTRODUCED IN FIRST COMMITTEE

Press Release
GA/DIS/3034*

TEXTS ON WIDE RANGE OF DISARMAMENT ISSUES INTRODUCED IN FIRST COMMITTEE

The General Assembly would address a wide range of disarmament issues, including efforts to conclude a comprehensive nuclear-test ban and to ban the production of fissile materials for weapons purposes, as well as the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East by the terms of a number of draft resolutions introduced this afternoon in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

Other texts introduced today would have the Assembly consider the need for early ratification on the Convention on Chemical Weapons and such problems as illicit traffic in small arms. The Assembly would also address such disarmament issues as the role of United Nations regional centres, and security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States.

According to one text, the Assembly would urge all parties directly concerned to consider taking urgent steps to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and, as a means to that end, would invite them to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Pending establishment of the zone, the Assembly would call on all countries of the region to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. It would also invite them not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit their stationing on their territories.

The Assembly would encourage the Secretary-General to continue efforts to curb the illicit circulation of small arms and to collect such arms in the affected States, by the terms of another draft. He would be asked to act with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the Organization of African Unity.

* In Press Release GA/DIS/3033 issued this morning, pages 2-11 should have been dated 7 November and should have indicated this was an AM meeting.

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All States parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, Outer Space and under Water (the partial test-ban treaty) would be asked to contribute to the conclusion of a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty as soon as possible and no later than 1996, by another draft resolution.

A draft resolution on the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction would stress the importance of its early entry into force and would urge States -- particularly those possessing chemical weapons -- to ratify it as soon as possible.

The Assembly would invite Member States to enhance bilateral and multilateral dialogue on the role of science and technology in international security, disarmament and related fields, according to another text.

Another draft resolution would have the Assembly ask the Secretary- General to give the widest possible circulation to his report on verification and the United Nations role, and would encourage Member States to consider the recommendations contained in it. It would ask that he report on actions taken by Member States and by the United Nations Secretariat regarding those recommendations.

By a draft resolution on nuclear disarmament with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, the Assembly would urge States not yet party to the NPT to accede to it at the earliest possible date. It would call on the nuclear-weapon States to pursue their nuclear disarmament efforts with the general aim of the elimination of nuclear weapons, in the framework of general and complete disarmament.

The Assembly would welcome the establishment by the Conference on Disarmament at its 1995 session of an ad hoc committee to negotiate a ban on the production of fissile material for weapon purposes.

A draft decision submitted this afternoon would have the Assembly include in the provisional agenda of its next session an item entitled "Non- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and of vehicles for their delivery in all its aspects".

Statements were made by the representatives of Egypt, Mali, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Japan, Hungary, Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire, Poland, Chad, Pakistan and Niger.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 8 November, to continue its consideration of draft resolutions and decisions on disarmament.

Committee Work Programme

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this afternoon to continue its consideration of draft resolutions and decisions on disarmament. It had before it draft resolutions on establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; verification, including the United Nations role; the role of science and technology in international security and disarmament; and the status of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Other draft resolutions concerned prohibiting the production of fissile material for weapons purposes; nuclear disarmament with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons; illicit traffic in small arms; the Treaty banning nuclear-weapon tests in the atmosphere, outer space and under water; and security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States. The Committee also had before it a draft decision on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

A draft decision submitted by Mexico (document A/C.1/50/L.2) would have the Assembly include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-first session an item entitled "Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and of vehicles for their delivery in all its aspects".

By a draft resolution submitted by Egypt on establishment of a nuclear- weapon-free zone in the Middle East (document A/C.1/50/L.10), the Assembly would urge all parties directly concerned to consider taking the urgent steps required to establish such a zone and, as a means to that end, would invite them to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Pending establishment of the zone, the Assembly would call on all countries of the region to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. It would invite them to declare their support for such a zone, to render assistance in its establishment, and to refrain from any action running counter to the letter and spirit of the current text. It would also invite them not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit their stationing on their territories.

By other terms of the text, the Assembly would invite all countries of the Middle East region to declare their support for such a zone. It would invite all parties to consider appropriate means that would contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. It would ask the Secretary-General to continue consultations with States of the region and other concerned States and to seek their views on the matter.

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By a 14-Power draft resolution on verification, including the United Nations role (document A/C.1/50/L.12), the Assembly would ask the Secretary- General to give the widest possible circulation to his report on the subject (document A/50/377) and to seek the views of Member States on it. It would encourage Member States to consider the recommendations contained in the report and to assist the Secretary-General in their implementation. It would ask that he report on the views received from Member States and on actions taken by them and by the United Nations Secretariat with respect to those recommendations.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, New Zealand, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Sri Lanka and Venezuela.

By a 27-Power draft resolution on the role of science and technology in international security, disarmament and related fields (document A/C.1/50/L.13), the Assembly would invite Member States to enhance bilateral and multilateral dialogue on the role of science and technology. Such dialogue would aim at ensuring implementation of commitments already made under international legal instruments and at exploring ways of further developing international legal rules on transfers of high technology having military applications.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Australia, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, Norway, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, South Africa, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and Uruguay.

The Committee also has before it a 45-Power draft resolution on the status of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (Chemical Weapons Convention) (document A/C.1/50/L.14). By its terms, the Assembly would welcome the work done so far by the Preparatory Commission for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in preparation for the entry into force and implementation of the Convention. It would urge the early completion of that work.

Stressing the importance of the early entry into force of the Convention, the Assembly would urge States -- particularly those possessing chemical weapons -- to ratify it as soon a possible. It would also encourage States that have not yet done so to sign the Convention, thus contributing to its universality.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Lithuania,

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Luxembourg, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Peru, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

By a 39-Power text on prohibiting the production of fissile material for weapons purposes (document A/C.1/50/L.15), the Assembly would welcome the establishment by the Conference on Disarmament at its 1995 session of an ad hoc committee to negotiate such a ban. It would encourage and support the Conference's efforts towards the immediate commencement and early conclusion of such negotiations.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Republic of Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

A draft resolution on nuclear disarmament with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/50/L.17), sponsored by Japan, would have the Assembly urge States not parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty to accede to it at the earliest possible date. It would call on the nuclear-weapon States to pursue their nuclear disarmament efforts with the general objective of the elimination of nuclear weapons, in the framework of general and complete disarmament. It would call on all States to implement fully their commitments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The 21-Power draft text on curbing the illicit traffic in small arms (document A/C.1/50/L.29) would request the Secretary-General to provide the requisite assistance for the implementation in the countries concerned of the relevant recommendations contained in the report of the United Nations Advisory missions.

The Secretary-General would be encouraged to continue efforts to curb the illicit circulation of small arms and to collect such arms in the affected States, with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the Organization of African Unity (OAU). He would be asked to report such progress to the fifty-first session of the Assembly. Member States were invited to support the efforts of affected countries to suppress the illicit circulation of small arms.

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The draft is sponsored by Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo.

A 17-Power draft resolution before the Committee concerns amendment of the Treaty banning nuclear-weapon tests in the atmosphere, outer space and under water (the partial test-ban treaty) (document A/C.1/50/L.32). By its terms, all States not yet party to the Treaty would be urged to adhere to it, and all States parties to it would be asked to contribute to the conclusion of a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty as soon as possible and no later than 1996. The President of the Amendment Conference was asked to conduct consultations to those ends. The Assembly would include the item in the provisional agenda of its fifty-first session.

The draft is sponsored by Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Republic of Tanzania and Venezuela.

The draft resolution on security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States (document A/C.1/50/L.39) had not yet been issued.

Statements

NABIL ELARABY (Egypt) introduced a draft resolution on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. The establishment of such a zone would generate the necessary conditions for enhancing peace and stability in the region. He recalled that the resolution passed year in and year out by consensus. Israel's position had been that only direct negotiations could result in the establishment of such a zone. All efforts to achieve meaningful results had been unsuccessful, until now. Israel had blocked the issue and held it hostage. Total and comprehensive peace required consideration of the legitimate security of all concerned parties, and not the concern of one party at the expense of another. The Arab States, for example, had security concerns in light of Israel's nuclear arsenal.

While Iran was within the geographical definition of the Middle East region, he said the territorial scope of such a zone could not include many countries that were beyond the established definition of the Middle East region. A nuclear-free zone in the Middle East was an essential prerequisite of the peace progress. Progress on such a zone should neither lead nor lag behind the peace process between States. The continued existence of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities in the Middle East also was an issue.

He noted that the resolution had been adopted before by the First Committee by consensus. The so-called step-by-step approach beginning with confidence-building measures, establishing peace relations, and in due course

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dealing with conventional arms control was not acceptable to the Arab States. In presenting the resolution, Egypt had refrained from adding new paragraphs of concern. His objective and most sincere hope was to maintain existing consensus. The concerned parties -- Iran, Israel and the Arab States -- should negotiate the practical arrangements of such a zone without further delay. The Committee would adopt the resolution calling for a nuclear-free zone in Africa with an annex that would include such a zone in the Middle East.

MAMADOU BANDIOUGOU DIAWARA (Mali) introduced the draft resolution on curbing the illicit traffic in small arms (document A/C.1/50/L.29). The traffic in small arms was a world scourge. Countries with limited resources were unable to preserve their own security when faced with groups having such weapons. In Africa, armies had changed the course of history.

M.J. MOHER (Canada) introduced the draft resolutions on verification, including the United Nations role (document A/C.1/50/L.12); the status of the Chemical Weapons Convention (document A/C.1/50/L.14); and prohibiting the production of fissile material for weapons purposes (document A/C.1/50/L.15).

Stressing the critical nature of verification, he said the field must be kept under review and the state of knowledge kept up to date. On the Chemical Weapons Convention, he said discussions being held in The Hague were the proper forum for issues relating to the Convention. The draft resolution on that Convention was procedural. On the prohibition of fissile materials, he said the related draft resolution was entirely factual. It did not attempt to discuss the substantive issues, which were being considered by the Conference on Disarmament.

A. DE ICAZA (Mexico) said that clarification was an essential component of the draft resolution on verification. When verification was multilateral, it added an additional element of trust, in particular for countries which did not have the national means for verifying compliance of a treaty by other States. Practical examples of verification had shown that the efforts of too many organizations may have lead to wasted efforts. He therefore supported the establishment of a multilateral body, for which the United Nations could play a decisive role.

He proceeded to introduce the draft decision on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and of vehicles for their delivery. Mexico was convinced that a multilateral approach for consideration of the non- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was the most appropriate approach.

In introducing the draft resolution on the amendment of the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water, he said the conclusion of a comprehensive-test-ban treaty continued to

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be one of the greatest priorities of the international community. The magnitude of the task required a redoubling of efforts to achieve the objective within the agreed time-frame. He summarized the draft, and expressed hope that it would receive the broadest support in the Committee.

MOHAMMAD JUSUF (Indonesia) associated his delegation with the statement made by Mexico when he introduced the draft resolution on amendment of the partial test-ban Treaty. The momentum generated by the Review and Extension Conference for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation on Nuclear Weapons (NPT) should be seized, in order to conclude a permanent test ban. The role of the vast majority of non-nuclear-weapon States should not be marginalized in that process. He requested that the President of the Amendment Conference for the partial test-ban Treaty conduct consultations aimed at concluding a comprehensive test ban at the earliest date.

HISAMI KUROKOCHI (Japan) introduced the draft resolution on nuclear disarmament with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/50/L.17). The current text took account of the results of the NPT Review Conference.

MIKLOS BOROS (Hungary) said his country was a co-sponsor of the draft resolution on verification. The study cited could contribute to confidence- building and security. It would be of value to know the views of Member States on that study.

Mr. MOHER (Canada) introduced a draft resolution on the role of science and technology in the context of international security. He re-emphasized the importance of articulating the relationship between science and technology for peaceful purposes and the necessity that it not be diverted for non-peaceful purposes. Canada's national objective was to secure as comprehensive and internationally acceptable instrument as possible, and to promote an ever-larger consensus around the ideas addressed in that resolution.

JOSE EDUARDO FELICIO (Brazil) said the objectives of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and access to technology for peaceful purposes were not contradictory. Brazil and Canada were introducing the resolution on this item again this year; one that was considerably shorter and simpler, and took into account those countries who had expressed reservations on the text of last year. It carefully avoided the potentially controversial aspects of the subject. The draft did not endorse nor criticize any particular set of measures or international instrument. Instead, it encouraged all States to renew efforts for broadening the transfer of technology to help prepare the way for a more substantive dialogue in the future.

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ERIC CAMILLE N'DRY (Cote d'Ivoire) said his country was a co-sponsor of the draft on curbing the illicit trafficking in small arms. Cote d'Ivoire intended to implement national measures to curb such trafficking, but international support was vital for the eradication of that scourge.

LUDWIK DEMBINSKI (Poland) said his country supported the draft resolutions on verification, the role of science and technology, the status of the Chemical Weapons Convention and prohibition of the production of fissile materials. Wide dissemination of knowledge on verification would help promote international security. Science and technology should be promoted, while avoiding its inappropriate use. A cut-off agreement on fissile materials would strengthen the non-proliferation regime. He appealed to all States for approval by consensus of the draft resolution on the Chemical Weapons Convention.

ISSA BRAHIM (Chad) said his country, a co-sponsor of the resolution on assistance to States to ban the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them, had experienced many years of conflict and a great proliferation of small arms. He appealed to the international community to support that resolution and exert greater efforts to assist those countries concerned in freeing themselves from such weapons.

Mr. AKRAM (Pakistan) introduced a draft resolution (document A/C.1/50/L.39, not yet published) on effective international arrangements to ensure non-nuclear-weapon States against threat or use of nuclear weapons. He said that despite the passage of so many years, it had not been possible to reach agreement on that issue of providing credible assurances on non-nuclear- weapon States.

The nuclear-weapon States had made unilateral statements on security assurances in Security Council resolution 984 (1995). There were shortcomings in that resolution -- the statements of Security Council members provided only conditional assurances. Only the Chinese assurances were unconditional and unqualified. Since they were subject to veto, those assurances were not credible. In addition, they were not universal, which was inconsistent with the United Nations Charter which provided for such assurances to all States.

The resolution before the Committee should actively pursue the aim of assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States. It was his hope that the draft would be adopted unanimously in the Committee and in the Assembly.

ABDOU ABARRY (Niger) supported the draft resolution on curbing the illicit traffic in small arms. The Secretary-General had set a mission to his subregion, which had assessed the negative impact of such weapons on the population. It was an important issue for that region and was linked to its development efforts. It was hoped the text would be approved by consensus.

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SOHRAB KHERADI, Committee Secretary, announced countries which had joined as new co-sponsors of resolutions. Among those texts already introduced, they are: for the draft resolution on verification (L.12), Bangladesh; on science and technology (L.13), Bangladesh and New Zealand; on the Chemical Weapons Convention (L.14), Monaco; on prohibiting the production of fissile materials (L.15), Monaco; on Disarmament Week (L.16), Bangladesh; on transparency (L.18), Ecuador; on illicit traffic in small arms (L.29), Burkina Faso; on the regional centre for disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (L.31), New Zealand; on the partial test-ban Treaty (L.32), Bangladesh, Benin and Brunei Darussalam.

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