DISARMAMENT COMMISSION ELECTS WOLFGANG HOFFMAN (GERMANY) AS ITS CHAIRMAN FOR 1996
Press Release
DC/2537
DISARMAMENT COMMISSION ELECTS WOLFGANG HOFFMAN (GERMANY) AS ITS CHAIRMAN FOR 1996
19951211 To Continue Consultations on Dates and Agenda of 1996 Substantive SessionThe Disarmament Commission elected Wolfgang Hoffman (Germany) as its Chairman for 1996, during its organizational meeting this morning. As no agreement was reached on either the dates or the provisional agenda of next year's 1996 substantive session, the Commission decided to suspend its organizational session and continue consultations on the issues.
Also this morning, the Commission elected four out of the planned eight Vice-Chairmen, and a Rapporteur. The representatives of Pakistan for Asian States; Poland and Ukraine for the Eastern European States; and Finland for the Western European and other States were elected Vice-Chairmen. The Groups of Latin American and Caribbean and of African States did not present their four candidates.
As Rapporteur for 1996, the Commission elected Rajab Sukayri (Jordan) for the Asian States.
The Commission, a deliberative body with universal membership, and mandated to make recommendations on disarmament issues, has since 1993 limited its discussions to three specific items. The current session of the First Committee has recommended that the 1996 substantive session discuss "international arms transfers".
During this year's substantive session of 15 to 30 May, the Commission concluded consideration of two substantive items: "process of nuclear disarmament in the framework of international peace and security, with the objective of the elimination of nuclear weapons"; and "Review of the Declaration of the 1990s as the Third Disarmament Decade".
Colombia's representative, speaking for the Non-Aligned Movement, said consultations should continue on the 1996 substantive session's duration and agenda items. The Chairman should provide a list of possible items to be included. The fourth special session of the General Assembly on disarmament should not be excluded as an agenda item. The duration should range from three weeks and one day to four weeks.
Since an agreement could not be reached today, the Commission's
substantive session could concentrate on whether it should take decisions on the fourth special session, Germany's representative said. The duration of the Commission's substantive session could be two weeks and one day, covering the first part of April, starting from 4 April. The United Kingdom, Ukraine and France expressed support for a two-week session. The United Kingdom's representative suggested that the meeting be held from 22 April to early May and Ukraine's representative proposed two weeks in the second half of April. The United Kingdom said two items should be considered: arms transfers and micro-disarmament. The United States representative said he favoured discussing conventional arms.
Iran's representative expressed support for three items and a four-week 1996 session, adding that this was the second year in which the organizational session had faced the problem of not agreeing on the substantive session's duration. That was because some meetings were arranged without adequate prior consultations with Commission members. The second half of April and the first half of May should not be crowded with meetings.
First Committee Recommendations
During the meeting, the Commission reviewed two relevant draft resolutions approved by the First Committee at its current session that which were directly relevant to the Commission's work.
By the first draft (document A/C.1/50/L.28/Rev.1), approved in Committee without a vote, the General Assembly would request the Disarmament Commission to meet for not more than four weeks in 1996. The draft recommended that the Commission's current organizational session, adopt the following items for consideration at its 1996 substantive session: international arms transfers and two other items to be added during the organizational session.
By the provisions of the second draft (document A/C.1/50/L.37/Rev.1), the Assembly would request the Commission to expedite its consideration of the item on international arms transfers, with special emphasis on the adverse effects of illicit transfer of arms and ammunition. It would also request the Commission to study and report on measures to curb the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms, bearing in mind concrete problems in various regions of the world.
Luvsangiin Erdenechuluun (Mongolia) is the Commission's Chairman for 1995.
The Commission will meet again on a date to be announced.
* *** *