NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, LAND-MINE EXPORT, NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION IN MIDDLE EAST, ILLICIT SMALL ARMS TRAFFIC, AMONG TEXTS APPROVED IN FIRST COMMITTEE
Press Release
GA/DIS/3045
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, LAND-MINE EXPORT, NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION IN MIDDLE EAST, ILLICIT SMALL ARMS TRAFFIC, AMONG TEXTS APPROVED IN FIRST COMMITTEE
19951117 The General Assembly would pronounce itself on a wide range of disarmament questions, including nuclear issues, land-mines, small arms and the operation of regional disarmament centres, by the terms of eight draft resolutions approved this afternoon by the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).Specifically, the Assembly would address the subjects of nuclear disarmament, nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, the Review and Extension Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), illicit traffic in small arms, moratoriums on the export of anti-personnel land-mines, the report of the Disarmament Commission, and regional centres for disarmament in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific.
The Assembly would urge States not parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty to accede to it at the earliest possible date, under a draft resolution on nuclear disarmament with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons. The Assembly would call for determined pursuit by the nuclear-weapon States of progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally, and by all States of general and complete disarmament. The text was approved by 144 votes in favour to none against, with 13 abstentions. (Annex III.)
Prior to approval of the text as a whole, separate votes were held on its fifth preambular paragraph, which welcomes decisions taken at the NPT Review Conference, and operative paragraph 1, which urges accession to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The fifth preambular paragraph was approved by 135 votes in favour to none against, with 19 abstentions. (Annex I.) Operative paragraph 1 was approved by 146 votes in favour to 2 against (India, Israel), with 7 abstentions (Algeria, Brazil, Cuba, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria and Pakistan). (Annex II.)
Addressing the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, the Assembly would call on Israel and all other States of the region not yet party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty "not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, to renounce possession of nuclear weapons and to accede to the Treaty at the earliest date". They would also be asked to place
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all unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. The draft was approved by 51 votes in favour to 4 against (Guatemala, Israel, Lesotho and United States), with 88 abstentions. (Annex V.)
Prior to approval of the text as a whole, a separate vote was held on its sixth preambular paragraph, which recalls the decision of the NPT Conference by which it urged universal adherence to the Treaty and called on all States to accede to it. That paragraph was approved by 109 votes in favour to 3 against (Guatemala, India and Israel), with 27 abstentions. (Annex IV.)
The Assembly would note that the States parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty decided this year, without a vote, to extend the Treaty indefinitely and to continue holding review conferences every five years, under another draft resolution. It would further note that they agreed to strengthen the review process on operation of the Treaty and that they affirmed the need to continue moving towards full implementation of its provisions. The draft resolution was approved by 155 votes in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (Cuba, India and Israel). (Annex VI.)
The Assembly would ask that the Disarmament Commission meet for a period not exceeding four weeks during 1996 and would recommend that it consider international arms transfers during its 1995 session, by the terms of another text approved without a vote. In addition, the Secretary-General would be asked to compile all texts of principles, guidelines or recommendations unanimously adopted by the Commission since its inception in 1978.
Prior to approval of the draft resolution as a whole, a separate vote was held on operative paragraph 12, which asks the Secretary-General to prepare that compilation. The paragraph was approved by 147 votes in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (Israel, United Kingdom and United States). (Annex VII.)
The Secretary-General would be asked to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, according to another text. Approved without a vote, it would have the Assembly express appreciation for contributions received by the Centre and appeal for voluntary contributions from all States, particularly those within the region, as well as from international governmental and non-governmental bodies.
Prior to approval of the draft as a whole, a separate vote was held on operative paragraph 4, which recommends that the Centre organize scheduled regional meetings in Kathmandu, Hiroshima and other cities in 1996, within
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26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
available resources. The paragraph was approved by 143 votes in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India). (Annex VIII.)
The Assembly would encourage the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to curb the illicit circulation of small arms and to collect such arms in affected States of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion which so request, by another text. Approved without a vote, it would have the Assembly invite States to implement national control measures to check the illicit circulation of small arms, in particular by curbing their illegal export.
The Assembly would urge States that have not yet done so to declare a moratorium on the export of anti-personnel land-mines, by another text approved without a vote. It would urge all States immediately to comply fully with the Protocol II of the Convention on Indiscriminate Conventional Weapons -- which addresses such weapons as land-mines -- and would ask the Secretary-General to report on steps taken by Member States to implement land-mine moratoriums. Prior to approval of the text, amendments proposed by India, Iran and Pakistan were withdrawn by their co-sponsors.
By another text approved without a vote, the Assembly would appeal once again to States and to international organizations to make substantial voluntary contributions in order to revitalize the two regional centres for disarmament in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. It would ask the Secretary-General to explore new alternative ways to continue providing all necessary support to the regional centres in fulfilling their mandates.
Statements were made by the representatives of the United States, Djibouti, Israel, Canada, Jordan, Mexico, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Australia, Spain (for the European Union and Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and the Slovak Republic), Libya, Botswana, Iraq, Turkey, India, Algeria, Colombia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Also speaking were the representatives of Iran, Uruguay, Cuba, Myanmar, Brazil, Viet Nam, Fiji, Gambia, Pakistan, Haiti, United Kingdom (also for the United States), China, Gabon, Iran and Egypt. Luvsangiin Erdenechuluun (Mongolia), Committee Chairman, spoke in his capacity as Chairman of the Disarmament Commission. The Director of the Centre for Disarmament Affairs also spoke.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 20 November, to continue taking action on disarmament-related draft resolutions and decisions.
Committee Work Programme
The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this afternoon to continue taking action on draft resolutions and decisions on disarmament. It had before it texts on nuclear disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons, the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, the report of the Disarmament Commission, illicit traffic in small arms, a moratorium on the export of anti-personnel land-mines, and the NPT Review and Extension Conference.
A 16-Power draft resolution on nuclear disarmament with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/50/L.17/Rev.2) would have the Assembly urge States not party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to accede to it at the earliest possible date. It would call for determined pursuit by the nuclear-weapon States of progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally, with the ultimate goal of their elimination, and for determined pursuit by all States of general and complete disarmament under effective international control. 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 draft resolution is sponsored by Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Venezuela.
A draft resolution on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East (document A/C.1/50/L.19/Rev.1) would have the Assembly call upon Israel and all other States of the region not yet party to the NPT "not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, to renounce possession of nuclear weapons and to accede to the Treaty at the earliest date".
By other terms of the text, the Assembly would call upon the States of the region to place all unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards as an important confidence-building measure and as a step towards enhancing peace and security.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, Egypt and Malaysia.
A draft resolution on the report of the Disarmament Commission (document A/C.1/50/L.28/Rev.1) would have the Assembly request that the Commission meet for a period not exceeding four weeks during 1996 and that it make every effort to conclude recommendations on its agenda items. It would encourage the Commission to continue enhancing its working methods and would recommend that it consider international arms transfers during its 1995 session, as well as two items to be determined at its 1995 organizational session. The
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Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to compile all texts of principles, guidelines or recommendations unanimously adopted by the Commission since its inception in 1978.
By other terms of the text, the Assembly would regret that the Commission was unable to agree on guidelines and recommendations for its item on nuclear disarmament with the aim of eliminating nuclear weapons. It would reaffirm the importance of further enhancing dialogue and cooperation among the First Committee, the Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Belarus, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, South Africa, Sweden and Uruguay.
By a 23-Power draft on curbing the illicit traffic in small arms (document A/C.1/50/L.29/Rev.2), the Assembly would invite States to implement national control measures to check the illicit circulation of small arms, in particular by curbing their illegal export, and would invite the international community to support those efforts.
By other terms of the text, the Assembly would encourage the Secretary- General to continue his efforts to curb the illicit circulation of small arms and to collect such arms in the affected States of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion which so request. He would be encouraged to do this 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).
The draft is sponsored by Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, 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 text submitted by Mali (document A/C.1/50/L.29/Rev.2) would amend the draft resolution on illicit traffic in small arms (document A/C.1/50/L.52). By its terms, operative paragraph 4, which asks the Secretary-General "to provide the requisite assistance for the implementation in the countries concerned of the relevant recommendations contained in the report of these advisory missions", would ask him to do so "from within existing resources".
Under a draft on moratoriums on the export of anti-personnel land-mines (document A/C.1/50/L.45), States that had not yet declared such moratoriums would be urged to do so. The Secretary-General would be asked to prepare a report on steps taken by Member States to implement those moratorium to the fifty-first session of the Assembly. The importance of the Convention on Indiscriminate Conventional Weapons is emphasized, and the widest possible
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accession to the Convention is encouraged. All States would be urged immediately to comply fully with the applicable rules of Protocol II. Further solutions to the problems caused by land-mines, with a view to their eventual elimination, also was encouraged.
The draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen and Zambia.
A text submitted by Iran, India and Pakistan contains five proposed amendments to the draft resolution on the export of anti-personnel land-mines (document A/C.1/50/L.56), as follows.
The text would delete preambular paragraph 15 of L.45, which reads:
"Believing that, in addition to Protocol II, other Measures to control the production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel land-mines are also necessary to address problems caused by anti-personnel land-mines, especially the indiscriminate or illegal use of anti-personnel land-mines that continue to inflict harm on civilian populations long after emplacement,"
The text would replace operative paragraphs 2, 4 and 5, which currently read:
"2. Urges States that have not yet done so to declared such moratoria at the earliest possible date;"
"4. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on steps taken by Member States to implement such moratoria, and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-first session under the item entitled 'General and complete disarmament';"
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"5. Encourages the widest possible accession to the Convention and to Protocol II, and further, urges all States immediately to comply fully with the applicable rules of Protocol II;"
They would be replaced with the following new paragraphs:
"2. Urges States that have not yet done so to declare such moratoriums on all types of anti-personnel land-mines at the earliest possible date;"
"4. Emphasizes the importance of the Convention on Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects and Protocol II thereto as the authoritative international instrument governing the responsible use of anti-personnel land-mines and related devices, and urges parties to build consensus towards an agreement on additional measures concerning prohibition and use of certain types of anti-personnel land-mines along with specific measures to ensure full and unimpeded access to material, equipment and technology for mine clearance when the Review Conference of Parties to the Convention reconvenes;"
"5. Encourages steps that would facilitate the widest possible accession to the Convention and to Protocol II thereto, and further urges all States to comply fully with the applicable rules of Protocol II;"
A new operative paragraph 6 would be added to read as follows:
"6. Calls upon all Stats, especially those which have a capacity to do so, to provide all kinds of assistance to remove or otherwise render ineffective minefields, mines and booby traps in accordance with international law."
That addition would renumber the other paragraphs accordingly.
A draft sponsored by Bangladesh, South Africa and Sri Lanka on the NPT Review and Extension Conference (document A/C.1/50/L.49/Rev.1) would have the Assembly note that the Conference, on 11 May, adopted decisions on strengthening the review process for the treaty, principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and extension of the Treaty. It would also note the Conference's 11 May resolution on the Middle East, and that the three decisions and the resolution were adopted without a vote.
The Assembly would note further that the States parties participating in the Conference agreed to strengthen the review process for the operation of the Treaty, and that Review Conferences should continue to be held every five years. The next Conference would thus be held in the year 2000, and the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee in 1997. It would also note that they
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affirmed the need to continue moving towards full realization and implementation of Treaty provisions, and that they decided to extend the Treaty indefinitely.
Statements
STEPHEN LEDOGAR (United States), speaking on the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, said it was counter-productive and inappropriate. It singled out for negative attention a State that was actively engaged in the Middle East peace process. It was inappropriate because it was redundant since the draft on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East had been adopted. "In short, it's a bad resolution and the United States will vote against it." If any paragraphs were singled out for separate action, he would abstain because those paragraphs were embedded in a draft he opposed fundamentally. Any new language -- regardless of how benign -- would result in his abstention.
DYSANE ABDALLAH DORANI (Djibouti) said he was impatient to see the result of the vote on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. Certain countries had provided moral lessons about the consequences of nuclear tests and the dangers of nuclear proliferation. One country distributed -- before the voting on the draft to halt nuclear testing -- documents that were out of the ordinary and which challenged the sovereignty of States by attempting to convince them to vote in favour of the draft. It would be logical of those States now to vote in favour of the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
Explanation of Vote
The representative of Israel, speaking on the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, said he had hoped short-lived political considerations would give way to a genuine urge to turn the Middle East into a zone of peace. He had hoped for removal of the draft from the agenda, as a means to enhance the peace process. Unfortunately, he had to engage today in an old ritual conceived years ago and retained for political purposes, whose only aim was the arraignment of Israel in the Committee. A simple scrutiny of the draft would show it singled out Israel. The representative of Egypt, in presenting the draft, spoke of equality when Israel was still faced with tremendous security problems. A number of States still denied Israel's legitimacy and failed to endorse the peace process.
He said the draft was devoid of any substantive message that did not appear in other drafts and would oppose it because of its "hostile nature" and attitude towards the peace process. A negative vote on the draft would constitute a positive vote for peace.
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The representative of Canada said all countries should sign the NPT. He congratulated the United Arab Emirates for such a step. All nuclear-weapon States should place their facilities under IAEA safeguards. The draft drew attention to the need for all States to accede to those instruments. While he agreed with certain terms of the text, he continued to have concerns about other parts -- in particular the singling out of one State. Direct engagement between Parties was the most effective way to achieve peace. He was aware of the deep commitment and real effort under way to build lasting relationships. He would abstain on the draft .
The representative of Jordan said he would vote in favour of the draft because it was balanced and fair. It referred to all relevant resolutions and recalled the resolutions adopted by the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, particularly where the importance of universality was emphasized. It was also balanced in that it referred favourably to positive developments in the Middle East peace process and appropriately established a clear linkage between confidence-building measures and the consolidation of the nuclear non- proliferation regime.
It called upon all States, without exception, to accede to the NPT and to place all their nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the IAEA, he continued. It also was fair in calling upon Israel and all other States to renounce nuclear weapons. The only reason for mentioning Israel in operative paragraph 2 was because it was the only State in the region with unsafeguarded nuclear capabilities. If it was true that peace and security could not be maintained in the region unless confidence prevailed among all States, adherence by all States of the Middle East to the NPT was required.
The Committee then heard a statement responding to concerns raised this morning about a proposed revision to part (c) of the sixth preambular paragraph of the draft resolution on nuclear disarmament. The text reads as follows:
"Noting the reference in the decision on the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament to the importance of the following measures for the full realization and effective implementation of article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, including the programme of action as reflected below:
"(c) The determined pursuit by the nuclear-weapon States of systematic and progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally, with the ultimate goal of eliminating those weapons, and by all States of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control,"
The proposal had been to replace the word "goal" with the word "goals".
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PRVOSLAV DAVINIC, Director of the Centre for Disarmament Affairs and former Secretary-General of the NPT Review and Extension Conference, said he had checked the documents of the Conference to determine the source of the discrepancy regarding the word "goals". The plural appears only in the English language version. It appeared in the singular in all other version.
He said that although there had been substantive discussion of the consequences of one or two goals, the NPT Conference had agreed to use the word in the singular. It was inadvertently introduced in plural form in the English version of the documents of the Conference. A corrigendum was already being prepared and would be issued as expeditiously as possible.
ANTONIO DE ICAZA (Mexico) asked for clarification as to whether the text to be voted on used the word "goal" or "goals".
LUVSANGIIN ERDENECHULUUN (Mongolia), Committee Chairman, said that, based on the explanation just given, it would read "goal".
A separate vote was then held on the fifth preambular paragraph of the text on nuclear disarmament. It reads as follows:
"Welcoming also the decision of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to extend the Treaty indefinitely, taken without a vote, as well as the decisions on strengthening the review process for the Treaty and on the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament,"
The fifth preambular paragraph was approved by 135 votes in favour to none against, with 19 abstentions. (For details of voting, see Annex I.)
A separate vote was held on operative paragraph 1 of the draft on nuclear disarmament. It reads:
"1. Urges States not parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to accede to it at the earliest possible date, recognizing the importance of universal adherence to the Treaty;"
Operative paragraph 1 was approved by 146 votes in favour to 2 against (India, Israel), with 7 abstentions (Algeria, Brazil, Cuba, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria and Pakistan). (Annex II.)
The draft resolution on nuclear disarmament was approved as a whole by 144 votes in favour to none against, with 13 abstentions. (Annex III.)
The Committee then turned to the draft resolution on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
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A separate vote was held on the sixth preambular paragraph. It reads:
"Recalling further the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995, in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the Treaty as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet party to the Treaty to accede to the Treaty at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities,"
The sixth preambular paragraph was approved by 109 votes in favour to 3 against (Guatemala, India and Israel), with 27 abstentions. (Annex IV.)
The draft resolution, as a whole, was approved by 51 votes in favour to 4 against (Guatemala, Israel, Lesotho, United States), with 88 abstentions. (Annex V.)
The Committee then turned to the draft resolution on the NPT Review and Extension Conference. It was approved by 155 votes in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (Cuba, India and Israel). (Annex VII.)
Explanation of Vote
The representative of Israel, speaking on the draft on the NPT Review and Extension Conference, said he was not a party to the NPT, nor bound by its decisions. He did not call for a vote on the draft because he considered it to be a procedural one. He abstained because he could not support any resolution which detracted from the sovereignty of the peace process.
The representative of Lebanon, speaking on that draft, reiterated his view that the NPT would be a fundamental component of international peace and security as long as it was effectively universal. Israel remained outside the NPT regime, thereby constituting a grave threat to international security. Israel was the only country in the Middle East with unsafeguarded nuclear facilities. His position on operative paragraph 2 remained constant. As long as Israel did not accede to the NPT and did not place its facilities under IAEA safeguards -- any measure concerning the NPT, particularly in the Middle East would fall short of its objective. That view also pertained to the draft on nuclear disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons.
The representative of Syria, speaking on the draft on nuclear disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons, said he had voted in favour of the draft as a whole. He had abstained from voting on the fifth preambular paragraph because during the NPT Conference he had not agreed on the Treaty's indefinite extension as long as Israel did not adhere to it, and place its nuclear facilities under safeguards.
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Regarding the draft on the NPT Review and Extension Conference, he said the indefinite extension of the Treaty had left nuclear programmes and weapons outside the regime of non-proliferation. That had left the security and stability of the Middle East and of the world in question. The terms of that Treaty were not taken by Israel, which acted as if it was above international law.
The representative of Australia said he had voted in support of the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East because it was consistent with his support of the peace process there, and of the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region. It also was consistent with his support of the indefinite extension of the NPT.
The representative of Spain, speaking on behalf of the European Union including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, the Slovak Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Romania, had abstained on the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. The international community now had a treaty of indefinite duration on non- proliferation. For that reason, the European Union had voted in favour of the sixth preambular paragraph. However, the draft continued to make a specific reference to Israel, which was not consistent with the spirit of the peace process under way in the Middle East and failed to respect the remarkable progress achieved there in the last year. He was therefore bound to abstain.
The representative of Libya said he had voted in favour of the two drafts; however, he had abstained on the fifth preambular paragraph in the draft on nuclear disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons because it welcomed the results of the NPT Review and Extension Conference. The Treaty had been extended in an unfamiliar way, through the unjustified pressures by one country that did not respect the free will of some countries. The Treaty perpetuated the discrimination between nuclear-weapon States and those who could not possess such weapons or their technology. No guarantees were provided to non-nuclear-weapon States that such weapons would not be used against them. In addition, it was meaningless unless all countries, including Israel, adhered to it and placed their nuclear weapons under IAEA safeguards.
He also had voted in favour of the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, although he had reservations acknowledging a so-called Israel at all, whose weapons posed a great threat to the Middle East and international peace and security.
The representative of Botswana, speaking on the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, said he had voted in favour of it. However, operative paragraph 2 constituted name-calling.
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The representative of Iraq said he supported the noble aims of that draft, however the language of the text did not precisely affect the gravity of the situation. It did not refer to the risks posed by Israel's possession of more than 200 nuclear warheads. It did not refer to the responsibility of the Security Council for eliminating the risks of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, specifically resolution 487 (1981), which called upon Israel to place its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. Those who complain about the reference to Israel by name should ask the Security Council why it singled out Israel in that resolution of all the States of the world. Paragraph 14 of Security Council resolutions 687 (1991) also had addressed the issue of Israel's weapons. He had reservations on the last preambular paragraph of the current text because the current developments towards peace in the Middle East would not induce Israel to give up its weapons. If Israel sought a genuine peace in the Middle East, it should follow the example of South Africa in renouncing its nuclear weapons.
The representative of Turkey said he was aware that nuclear proliferation in the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security. He shared the main thrust of the draft and voted in favour of the sixth preambular paragraph. However, he had abstained in the vote on the draft as a whole because referring to a particular country was not compatible with the draft.
The representative of India said she would have voted against the draft on nuclear disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons, but could not because it sought to include language from the NPT, and to turn that language into customary international law. Inequality should not be translated into law, particularly since she had not been party to such a Treaty. She had called for a vote on the fifth preambular paragraph and on operative paragraph 1. None the less, since the draft was aimed in a misguided way for disarmament, she had abstained.
Regarding the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, she had voted against the sixth preambular paragraph and abstained on the draft as a whole. She did not support the singling out of any State in a draft. Regarding the draft on the NPT Review and Extension Conference, its language integrated the results and decisions of an intergovernmental Conference outside the United Nations.
The representative of Algeria said he had abstained on the draft on nuclear disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons. It duplicated, and even contradicted, the draft on nuclear disarmament, which his delegation had co-sponsored. He would have preferred efforts to try to match those two
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drafts. Some of the terms of the text were inconsistent with his view of nuclear disarmament -- views which were reiterated at the Summit in Cartagena. The draft did not conceive of nuclear disarmament taking place through concrete measures and within a specific time-frame.
The representative of Libya said he could not continue to work under conditions which prevented Arabic translation of the meeting.
The representative of Colombia said he was a party to the Treaty of Tlatelolco and to the NPT. He supported the nuclear-weapon-free zone and believed in such a zone in the Middle East. He was pleased with the remarkable efforts being made to achieve peace between Palestine and Israel, and many States outside the region. The elimination of nuclear weapons in the region was one of the things that could help strengthen the right of all peoples of the region to live in peace.
The representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea said his country had abstained on the nuclear disarmament text. He was concerned it might mislead the public, since Japan's acts contradicted what was written in the text it had submitted. The text could not be taken at face value.
The representative of Iran said his country's views on nuclear disarmament were contained in L.46, approved by the Committee yesterday. Under the same title, today's text attempted to present a very broad view of the subject, primarily in the context of the decision taken at the NPT Review and Extension Conference. The draft did not open any doors; neither did it close any. As such, it could have enjoyed Iran's moderate and general support. However, in its present form, the text needed some improvement.
He said operative paragraph 3 called on States to fulfil their commitments in disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. However, it was not appropriate to skip commitments on the elimination of such weapons. The fifth preambular paragraph's reference to decisions taken at the NPT Conference was not an accurate reflection of the manner in which those decisions were taken. It was too early to welcome the decision to indefinitely extend the Non-Proliferation Treaty, depending on whether commitments which had been reached would be fulfilled in good faith.
He said Iran supported the text on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, as the region remained under Israel's threat. However, it had reservations on the references to the Middle East peace process.
The representative of Uruguay said he had abstained on the text on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. That text repeated the discriminatory practice of name-calling. The singling out of States was unacceptable in resolutions of a general nature. That applied in particular
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to resolutions concerning a specific region. Such language added no positive elements and maintained a divisive tone which might be detrimental to delicate negotiations.
The representative of Cuba said his delegation had difficulties with the text on nuclear disarmament. Its title and content could have been more objectively balanced. The title reflected one idea, while the text focused on a different matter, relating to the NPT. Cuba was not party to that Treaty and had abstained in the voting on that text.
The representative of Myanmar spoke to explain his position on the text concerning the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. Such a country-specific resolution was not helpful. He supported the call on States of the region to accede to the NPT and to place their facilities under full- scope IAEA safeguards. Myanmar was also supportive of the draft resolution on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East (L.10), which was not country specific. However, it had reservations to operative paragraph 2, which singled out Israel.
The representative of Brazil, explaining his abstention on the nuclear disarmament text, said the sponsors had been unable to accommodate Brazil's concerns that the draft should take account of regional agreements, such as the Treaty of Tlatelolco. Speaking on the texts in general, he said he failed to grasp the notion, expressed here, that a treaty that was not universally accepted could be considered a part of customary international law.
The representative of Viet Nam said he had voted in favour of the nuclear disarmament text. However, he would have liked to see a text that was stronger in context and more in accord with the responsibility of nuclear- weapon States to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons. Viet Nam voted in favour of the Middle East text, in keeping with its desire to see a nuclear-weapon-free zone established in the Far East.
The representative of Fiji said he voted in favour of the Middle East text. The elimination of nuclear weapons there would be conducive to progress in the current peace process. However, it was regrettable that a single State had been singled out for mention in the text.
The representative of Gambia said that, had he been present, he would have voted in favour of the text on nuclear disarmament and on the NPT Review and Extension Conference. He would have abstained on the text on nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
The Committee then turned to its texts on illicit traffic in small arms and moratoriums on the export of anti-personnel land-mines.
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MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) drew attention to the draft amendments to the draft resolution on land-mines, contained in document A/C.1/50/L.56. Its co-sponsors had been told that the question of the transfer of related technology should be taken up next year. It was clarified that the goal was to place a moratorium on all types of anti-personnel land-mines. It was also stated that concerns regarding assistance in mine clearance could be reflected in other texts to be taken up by the Assembly. They were also told that if the proposed amendments were to have been included in the draft resolution, it might lose some of its co-sponsors. The co-sponsors had therefore agreed not to press their amendments to a vote.
ANTONIO RODRIGUE (Haiti) said his country would like to join as a co-sponsor of the text on curbing the illicit traffic in small arms. Such arms threatened civilian populations, as well as the political stability of a number of countries. That applied in particular to countries like his own, which were experiencing an apprenticeship to democracy. Collection of the large number of weapons circulating in Haiti was an absolute priority. His Government had taken steps to that end.
STEPHEN LEDOGAR (United States), speaking on the draft on the moratoriums on the export of anti-personnel land-mines, expressed appreciation of the withdrawal by the co-sponsors of certain changes. Such compromises remained important steps towards removal of that scourge. The draft had received widespread support -- a record 103 sponsors -- for the growing commitment to work towards the humanitarian goal of the eventual elimination of land-mines. It underscored the importance of international cooperation on that issue. It was one of three drafts dealing with that important matter. The General Assembly was dealing with demining and assisting affected countries; regulating their use was the subject of the Conference.
Action on Draft
The draft on illicit traffic in small arms was approved without a vote.
The representative of Gambia said he wished to co-sponsor the draft on moratoriums on the export of anti-personnel land-mines.
The draft on moratoriums on the export of anti-personnel land-mines was approved without a vote.
The representative of India said she was pleased at the adoption of that draft by consensus, however while she had co-sponsored such a draft last year, she was unable to do so this year because of the following reasons: she had considerable difficulty with the term that indicated measures arrived at outside the Conference in Geneva would coexist with those of the Conference; it was also stated in operative paragraph 5 that implementation of Protocol II
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would take place immediately. That concept was being negotiated in Geneva, but, in spite of the statement by the representative of the United States, she was not reassured of its prejudgement. Overall, she was in full support of the draft and of the moratoriums.
The representative of Israel said he shared the dismay over the ongoing tragedy over the illegal planting of land-mines, and had imposed a moratorium on their sale and transfer. He supported the requirement that all mines be detectable and that their use without such mechanisms be restricted to controlled areas. He favoured the extension of the scope of Protocol II to armed conflicts, to protect the civilian population in times of war as well as peace. He called upon regional States to act likewise and to declare a moratorium on anti-personnel land-mines.
The representative of the United Kingdom said that while he went along with the consensus on the draft on illicit traffic in small arms, he had made it clear last year that he had two concerns which remained in the current draft. He had expressed the view that no additional burden be placed on the United Nations' budget, and that costs of curbing illicit traffic should be met from within existing resources. He added that the second preambular paragraph was inconsistent with the rest of the text. Its focus should be on the illicit traffic of small arms. Their possession, per se, did not necessarily impede development. It was not massive, but excessive quantities of such arms, which could be de-stabilizing. He was disappointed that inserting the word "illicit" before "circulation" was rejected. He would break consensus on that text if it appeared next year.
The representative of Turkey, speaking on the draft on land-mines, said he strongly supported its goal, but he was not in full agreement with operative paragraph 6. Had it been put to a vote, he would have abstained.
The representative of China said he had joined in consensus on that draft on anti-personnel land-mines. He was of the view that it was necessary to avoid harm to innocent civilians through certain prohibitions and restrictions on land-mines. On the other hand, consideration should be given to the fact that land-mines constituted passive explosive devices and were a legitimate means of defence for many countries. He sought a feasible approach to the problem in a balanced way. Ever since the relevant resolution had been adopted at the forty-eighth session of the General Assembly, China had not exported any anti-personnel land-mines. Their prohibition, however, may not serve the legitimate rights of all countries, especially developing ones.
The representative of Gabon said he wished to become a co-sponsor of the draft on moratoriums on the export of anti-personnel land-mines. She added that certain terms of the draft on illicit traffic in small arms had diminished the importance of the draft.
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The Committee then turned to draft resolutions concerning disarmament machinery. In addition to the text on the report of the Disarmament Commission, it had before it texts on regional centres for disarmament in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, and on the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific.
Under the draft resolution on the United Nations regional centres for disarmament in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean (document A/C.1/50/L.24), the Assembly would strongly appeal once again to Member States and other international organizations to make more substantial voluntary contributions in order to revitalize the two centres in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Assembly would have the Secretary-General explore new alternative ways to continue providing all necessary support to the regional centres in fulfilling their mandates, and to ensure that the directors of the two regional centres were locally based.
The draft is sponsored by Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa (on behalf of the African Group of States), Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The 19-Power draft resolution on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (document A/C.1/50/L.31/Rev.1) would have the Assembly request that the Secretary-General provide all necessary support to the Centre, within existing resources, in carrying out its programme of activities. It would express appreciation for contributions received by the Centre and appeal for voluntary contributions from all Member States, particularly those within the region, as well as from international governmental and non-governmental bodies.
The Assembly would reaffirm its strong support for the further strengthening of the Centre as an essential promoter of the "Kathmandu process" for peace and disarmament dialogue in the region, and would decide that the Director of the Centre should operate as before until a reliable means can be found to finance the Centre's operational needs. It would recommend that the Centre organize scheduled meetings in Kathmandu, Hiroshima and other cities in 1996, within available resources contributed voluntarily for that purpose.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.
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Mr. ERDENECHULUUN (Mongolia), Committee Chairman, speaking as Chairman of the Disarmament Commission, introduced the draft resolution on the report of that body. He said the Budget Division had proposed to absorb additional requirements that would arise under the draft resolution, under the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997.
The representative of the United Kingdom, speaking in explanation of vote, also on behalf of the United States, said those delegations would support the text on the Disarmament Commission as a whole but would abstain on operative paragraph 12. Its request that the Secretary-General prepare a compilation of all texts of principles, guidelines and reommendations unanimously adopted by the Commission since its inception was not a good use of resources which could be better used elsewhere. The request represented a reversion to former bad practices, which were particularly unacceptable at a time of financial crisis.
The Committee then approved without a vote the draft resolution on regional centres for disarmament in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Committee then turned to the draft resolution on the report of the Disarmament Commission.
SOHRAB KHERADI, Committee Secretary, said it had been proposed to absorb additional requirements that would arise under the draft resolution under the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997.
A separate vote was held on operative paragraph 12. It was approved by 147 votes in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (Israel, United Kingdom and United States). (Annex VII.)
The draft resolution, as a whole, was approved without a vote.
The Committee then turned to the draft resolution on the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific.
The representative of China said he had informed the Bureau that his delegation was requesting a separate vote on operative paragraph 4 of the draft.
[Note: Operative paragraph 4 reads as follows:
"4. Recommends that the Regional Centre organize the scheduled regional meetings in Kathmandu, Hiroshima and other cities in 1996, within the available resources voluntarily contributed by the Member States and other organizations for that purpose;"].
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Operative paragraph 4 was approved by 143 votes in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea and India). (Annex VIII.)
The draft resolution, as a whole, was approved without a vote.
The representative of Spain, speaking on behalf of the European Union on the draft on the regional centres for disarmament in Africa and Latin American and the Caribbean, said regional efforts continued to be important. Consequently, he regretted that the regional centre in Lima had been unable to carry out certain activities since last year because of a lack of resources. The draft did not reflect those facts or take into account the Secretary- General's report that lack of resources could result in the closure of those centres.
We could not turn our backs on reality any longer, he said. If it was not possible to secure financing through voluntary contributions, then the centres would have to be closed, thereby transferring their activities to United Nations Headquarters. He had also joined in the consensus on the draft on the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific. He would request that the vote be annexed to the Secretary-General's report for next year.
The representative of the United States said he fully supported the position by the European Union on that draft. He would like to be associated with those statements just made by Spain to include his request that the vote be annexed to the Secretary-General's report next year.
The representative of China said he supported the work of the regional centre in Asia in enhancing understanding between countries in the region. He wished to thank Nepal for the important role it had played as host nation. He endorsed the draft, yet concerning operative paragraph 4, he was of the view that there was no need to make separate reference to any other cities, giving them special treatment that was not given others. Therefore, he had abstained on the vote of that paragraph. The activities of the centre should be established jointly through full consultations with countries of the region. It was not appropriate for individual countries that provided funding to dominate.
The representative of Iran said that he supported the centre and its goals and activities. However, in the future, Asian countries should have more say in those activities, and more attention should be paid to the subregions of the area, including the Middle East.
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The representative of India said she had abstained on operative paragraph 4. If all countries of the region had agreed to the text of that paragraph, she would have agreed.
The representative of Egypt, speaking on the draft on small arms, said a revision had been proposed which had addressed an important principle of the United Nations Charter -- that of the inalienable right of self-determination, which should be recognized in the draft. He therefore introduced an oral amendment to replace the third preambular paragraph which currently states:
"Reaffirming the inherent right to individual or collective self-defence recognized in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, which implies that States also have the right to acquire arms with which to defend themselves."
The proposed amendment reads as follows:
"Taking into account the need of States to protect their security, bearing in mind the inherent right of self-defence embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and without prejudice to the principle of equal rights and self-determination of people in accordance with the Charter."
The representative of Pakistan said he had had long and constructive consultations with regard to the amendment, and was grateful to the efforts made by his colleague from Egypt. If the revised third preambular paragraph could be adopted into the draft, he was prepared to withdraw the amendment contained in document L.58 to that draft. He added that the representative had referred to "people" instead of "peoples".
Speaking on the same subject, the representative of the United Kingdom asked if the representative of Egypt was departing from the Charter. Which should it be -- people or peoples?
The CHAIRMAN said whatever was in the document -- peoples, he thought.
The representative of Guatemala, in correcting the record, said his vote on the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East was not a vote against, but an abstention.
(Annexes follow)
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First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3045 26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
ANNEX I
Vote on Fifth Preambular Paragraph of Draft on Nuclear Disarmament
The fifth preambular paragraph of the draft on nuclear disarmament (document A/C.1/50/L.17/Rev.2) was approved by a recorded vote of 135 in favour to none against, with 19 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikstan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia.
Against: None.
Abstaining: Afghanistan, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iran, Israel, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Absent: Algeria, Angola, Belize, Burundi, Costa Rica, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Monaco, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Zaire.
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(END OF ANNEX I)
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First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3045 26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
ANNEX II
Vote on Operative Paragraph 1 of Draft on Nuclear Disarmament
Operative paragraph 1 of the draft on nuclear disarmament (document A/C.1/50/L.17/Rev.2) was approved by a recorded vote of 146 in favour to 2 against, with 7 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, 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, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: India, Israel.
Abstaining: Algeria, Brazil, Cuba, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Absent: Angola, Belize, Burundi, Costa Rica, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea- Bissau, Monaco, Oman, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zaire.
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(END OF ANNEX II)
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First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3045 26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
ANNEX III
Vote on Draft on Nuclear Disarmament to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons
The draft on nuclear disarmament to eliminate nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/50/L.17/Rev.2) was approved by a recorded vote of 144 in favour to none against, with 13 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Côte 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, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: None.
Abstaining: Algeria, Brazil, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ghana, India, Iran, Israel, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan.
Absent: Angola, Belize, Burundi, Costa Rica, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Monaco, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra
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Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX III)
First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3045 26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
ANNEX IV
Vote on Sixth Preambular Paragraph of Draft on Nuclear Proliferation in Middle East
The sixth preambular paragraph of the draft on nuclear proliferation in the Middle East (document A/C.1/50/L.19/Rev.1) was approved by a recorded vote of 109 in favour to 3 against, with 27 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen.
Against: Guatemala, India, Israel.
Abstaining: Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, El Salvador, Georgia, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Singapore, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Zambia.
Absent: Albania, Angola, Armenia, Belize, Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde,
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Congo, Costa Rica, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Zaire, Zimbabwe.
(END OF ANNEX IV)
First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3045 26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
ANNEX V
Vote on Draft on Nuclear Proliferation in Middle East
The draft on nuclear proliferation in the Middle East (document A/C.1/50/L.19/Rev.1) was approved by a recorded vote of 51 in favour to 4 against, with 88 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Chad, China, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, Fiji, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, New Zealand, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Yemen.
Against: Guatemala, Israel, Lesotho, United States.
Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former
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Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia.
Absent: Angola, Belize, Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde, Congo, Costa Rica, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Zaire, Zimbabwe.
(END OF ANNEX V)
First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3045 26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
ANNEX VI
Vote on Draft on NPT Review and Extension Conference
The draft on the NPT Review and Extension Conference (document A/C.1/50/L.49/Rev.1) was approved by a recorded vote of 155 in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, 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, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, 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, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation,
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Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: None.
Abstaining: Cuba, India, Israel.
Absent: Angola, Belize, Brazil, Burundi, Costa Rica, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Vanuatu, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX VI)
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First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3045 26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
ANNEX VII
Vote on Operative Paragraph 12 of Draft on Report of Disarmament Commission
Operative paragraph 12 of the draft on the report of the Disarmament Commission (document A/C.1/50/L.28) was approved by a recorded vote of 147 in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, 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, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: None.
Abstaining: Israel, United Kingdom, United States.
Absent: Angola, Belize, Benin, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
First Committee - 32 - Press Release GA/DIS/3045 26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
Haiti, Lebanon, Lesotho, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Zaire.
(END OF ANNEX VII)
First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3045 26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
ANNEX VIII
Vote on Operative Paragraph 4 of Deaft on Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific
Operative paragraph of draft on the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (document A/C.1/50/L.31) was approved by a recorded vote of 143 in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, 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, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: None.
First Committee - 33 - Press Release GA/DIS/3045 26th Meeting (PM) 17 November 1995
Abstaining: China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India
Absent: Angola, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Lebanon, Lesotho, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Zaire.
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