CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT OPENS FIRST PART OF 1996 SESSION

Press Release
DCF/248

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT OPENS FIRST PART OF 1996 SESSION

GENEVA, 23 January (UN Information Service) -- The Conference on Disarmament today heard appeals for the rapid conclusion of a comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty by June 1996 and reestablished its Ad Hoc Committee on a Nuclear-Test Ban, as it began the first part of its 1996 session.

Citing the "rolling text" currently under consideration by the Conference, speakers said adoption of the ban could contribute to global disarmament, help prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and eventually lead to a total ban on all forms of nuclear explosions. However, agreement had not yet been reached regarding the scope of the ban, its verification mechanisms -- including the role of on-site inspections -- and the timing of its entry into force.

U Aye (Myanmar), President of the Conference for the first four-weeks of the session, opened today's meeting. He urged members to intensify efforts towards finalizing the comprehensive test ban and expressed the hope that substantive action would be taken on the question of expanding membership in the Conference.

John Holum, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, read out a statement by President Bill Clinton, in which he pledged that country's "full and energetic support" for the conclusion of a truly comprehensive ban by June 1996.

Vladimir Petrovsky, Secretary-General of the Conference and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, read out a statement from Secretary- General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. In it, the Secretary-General urged members of the Conference to focus renewed energy on concluding a comprehensive test ban, adding that 1996 "will be a significant year in our effort to make the world a safer place".

Statements were also made by the representatives of Pakistan, Peru (on behalf of neutral and non-aligned countries which form the Group of 21), and Romania.

In other business, the Conference elected Jaap Ramaker (Netherlands) to serve as Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Nuclear-Test Ban.

In addition, Hocine Meghlaoui (Algeria) was appointed as Special Coordinator on a number of other matters to be discussed during the Conference's 1996 session. These will include prevention of an arms race in outer space, transparency in armaments, expansion of the membership of the Conference, new types of weapons of mass destruction, prohibiting the production of fissile material for weapons purposes, and security arrangements for non-nuclear-weapon States.

Statements

U AYE (Myanmar), Conference President, said that among the major advances of 1995 were the indefinite extension of the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), adoption of the Treaty on the denuclearization of Africa, and the continuing efforts towards the denuclearization of South-East Asia.

Mr. Aye said it was imperative to reestablish the Ad Hoc Committee on a Nuclear-Test Ban "at this very first meeting", so it might begin work immediately. Underscoring the urgency of completing a comprehensive test-ban within the next few months, he cautioned that, although "the window of opportunity is open", it would not always remain so.

Citing a recent General Assembly resolution in which it welcomed the continuing efforts to negotiate a comprehensive ban, Mr. Aye urged members of the Conference to redouble their efforts to achieve consensus. In particular, the nuclear-weapon States should be urged to stop immediately the qualitative improvement of nuclear capacities, and to begin a step-by-step reduction in nuclear weapons. In addition, the question of security assurances for non- nuclear-weapon States should be given higher priority, while the question of preventing an arms race in outer space should remain under active consideration.

The issue of membership had recently taken on broader proportions, the President said. As the composition of the Conference no longer accurately reflected present-day realities, serious attention should be given to the requests of 23 additional States for membership and to establishing an effective and regular review mechanism.

Looking beyond the anticipated agreement on the comprehensive test ban, he suggested that future consideration be given to a thorough review of the Conference's agenda, as well as to transparency in armaments. Stressing that the term "prevention of nuclear war" was too vague, he said discussions on that item should focus on the more precise term, "non-use of nuclear weapons".

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VLADIMIR PETROVSKY, Director-General of the United nations Office at Geneva, Secretary-General of the Conference, and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Conference, read out a statement from Secretary- General Boutros-Ghali. In it, he states that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the ready availability of their components constitute a threat to international peace and security, which requires a coordinated response by the international community.

As the world's single multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, the Conference must focus its energies on non-proliferation and disarmament by concluding the comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty, the Secretary-General states. Noting that some progress has been made towards that end in 1995, he adds that "nothing must be allowed to deter that objective".

MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) said 1996 would be a critical turning point on disarmament issues. The decision to indefinitely extend the NPT was the "easy part" in battling nuclear proliferation. The moment of truth would come this year. Expressing dismay at what he viewed as hesitation by of the nuclear- weapon States, he expressed particular concern over the qualitative upgrading of nuclear weapons, which was sometimes carried out in tandem with a quantitative decrease. Countries carrying out such policies lacked the moral authority to press for non-proliferation.

It was unfortunate that the only existing consensus within the Conference was on the resumption of negotiations, he said. Along with other members of the Group of 21 neutral and non-aligned nations, Pakistan would continue to press for effective nuclear disarmament. While he believed that progress had been made towards conclusion of a comprehensive test ban, major issues remained, including primarily the question of the treaty's scope. The treaty must, by definition, include a total and comprehensive ban on all nuclear explosions. A so-called "zero-yield" clause would ensure the fundamental aim of halting further development of nuclear weapons.

JOHN D. HOLUM, Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, read out a message from President Bill Clinton. In it, he pledged his country's "full and energetic support" for conclusion of a truly comprehensive treaty by June 1996. Should the Conference prove unsuccessful in that task, Mr. Holum said, its failure would represent a dangerous setback, not only for arms control but for multilateral institutions and international diplomacy, as well. Nuclear weapons had already been tested in over 2,000 explosions and more than 20 locations. Their "deadly" success had been established.

A comprehensive test ban would act as a bulwark against the further development, creation and proliferation of nuclear capabilities and would comprise a necessary step towards the broader goal of full nuclear disarmament, he said. In reality, such a ban only fell on the five nuclear- weapon States. Without a zero-yield clause, the development of new weapons could generate new forms of nuclear proliferation. By preventing such developments, a comprehensive test ban would help make nuclear war less likely and promote the trend towards smaller nuclear arsenals.

Noting that current "rolling text" contained more than 1,000 undecided terms or phrases, Mr. Holum said the task was not as daunting as it might

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seem, as only a few basic issues stood in the way of agreement. He urged conclusion of a treaty in time for the next session of the General Assembly.

JOSE URRUTIA (Peru), speaking on behalf of the Group of 21 neutral and non-aligned States, expressed regret that certain member States were unwilling to negotiate on the issue of nuclear disarmament within the Conference. Following adoption by the NPT Conference of its decision on principles and objectives, the Conference should include in its agenda item on nuclear disarmament and immediately reestablish an ad hoc committee to negotiate a nuclear disarmament treaty.

The decisions and recommendations on nuclear disarmament in the final document of the Cartagena Summit meeting of non-aligned countries underscored the same objective, he said. The Group of 21 would work assiduously to ridding the planet of the threat of nuclear weapons, just as the international community had done with biological and toxin weapons and chemical weapons.

ROMULUS NEAGU (Romania) said the end of the cold war had freed the international system to establish a framework for important achievements in disarmament and international security. The permanent extension of the NPT was a crucial dividend of that new era. It would push forward negotiations on the elimination of other weapons of mass destruction, enhance security guarantees and increase transparency. Such issues as the scope of a comprehensive test ban, basic obligations, international monitoring and on- site verification were crucial issues which must be resolved quickly so that the treaty could be signed. A zero-yield clause was essential.

Despite the high priority given to the test-ban negotiations, such issues as the development of a multilateral, verifiable Convention to prohibit the production of fissile material for weapons purposes was also of major importance, he said. Negotiations must be undertaken on the questions of scope, the production of fissile materials for peaceful purposes, and verification.

Regarding conventional disarmament, he stressed the importance of transparency and self-restraint in arms transfer. The United Nations Register of Conventional Armaments was a significant advancement, and steps should be taken to ensure the widest possible adherence to it. Development of a binding code of conduct based on such principles would be in the interest of all States, and especially the smaller developing countries.

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