DISARMAMENT COMMISSION BEGINS 1996 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION
Press Release
DC/2547
DISARMAMENT COMMISSION BEGINS 1996 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION
19960422 International arms transfers would be a major focus of the work of the 1996 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission, according to Commission Chairman Wolfgang Hoffman (Germany).In his opening remarks this morning, the Chairman pointed out that it had been understood, in the Commission's organizational session, that work on the guidelines and principles for international arms transfers would be concluded at the 1996 substantive session.
The Commission was, however, still unable to reach consensus on the choice of a third specific agenda item -- a nuclear issue -- for its 1996 session. The Commission has, since 1993, limited its discussion to three specific items. Following a suspension of the meeting for further consultations on the matter, the Chairman announced that the Commission would continue working under a provisional agenda which included only two specific items -- international arms transfers, with particular reference to General Assembly resolution 46/36 of 6 December 1991 and the proposed fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovak Republic, Cyprus, Malta, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, the representative of Italy, expressed regret that the Union's proposal for the inclusion of a new item on the agenda, entitled "principles and guidelines on nuclear-weapon-free zones", which was supported by the overwhelming majority of the Member States, had not achieved consensus agreement. Acknowledging the progress made in the 1995 session on the issue of arms transfers, he stressed that all aspects of arms transfers deserved close scrutiny by the international community.
The representative of Colombia said that a statement made by President Clinton at the fiftieth session of the General Assembly affirmed the scourge of illicit trafficking to which no country was immune. Colombia appealed to all countries to join with the United States to stem the dubious arms markets. The working group of the Commission on international arms transfers should produce a text to serve as guidance to combat illicit trade.
Emphasizing the destabilizing effect of illicit arms trade, the representative of Algeria referred to the problems in his region caused by the illicit arms trade to various terrorist organizations. The particular role of producer countries should be stressed, he added.
Also this morning, the Commission named Nigeria as one of its Vice- Chairmen for the session. Vice-Chairmen from the African Group of States and from the Eastern European States remain to be named.
The Commission will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its general exchange of views.
Commission Work Programme
The Disarmament Commission met this morning to begin its general exchange of views at the opening of its 1996 substantive session, which runs from 22 April to 7 May. The session will focus on three items: international arms transfers, with particular reference to General Assembly resolution 46/36 of 6 December 1991; the proposed fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament; and a nuclear issue as yet to be agreed upon in continuing consultations. The Commission has, since 1993, limited its discussion to three specific items.
The arms transfer issue is in particular response to Assembly resolution 46/36 H of 6 December 1991, which called upon States to give high priority to eradicating illicit trade in weapons and military equipment. The resolution stated that three stages in the arms trade should be the focus of controls: the acquisition of arms by unauthorized persons; their export; and their delivery. The resolution suggested that measures be considered to prevent arms transfers to non-governmental bodies, rather than deal with the issue of government-to-government transfers. (For background on the session, see Press Release DC/2545 of 19 April)
Statements
Opening the 1996 session, Chairman WOLFGANG HOFFMAN (Germany) said the Commission was beginning its work this year at an important time in disarmament history. In particular, a crucial phase had been reached in the attempt to reach a comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty. He expressed the hope that the Commission would be able to offer guidelines and principles in a number of disarmament areas. The continuing efforts on international arms transfers was an example of the important work ahead for the Commission.
In the organizational session, he said it was understood that work on the guidelines and principles for international arms transfers would be concluded at the 1996 session. Regarding a proposed fourth special session of the Assembly devoted to disarmament, he noted that there was a convergence of
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opinion on the need for the convening of such a session, and those views would be explored in the working group on that issue. Turning to the ongoing consideration of a third issue for the session -- a nuclear issue -- he said informal consultations would continue in an attempt to reach a consensus on the choice of a specific nuclear issue.
Following a brief suspension of the plenary meeting for informal consultations, the Commission, on the recommendation of its Chairman, continued its approval of its agenda as provisional, in the absence of agreement on a third specific agenda item -- a nuclear issue.
LUIGI A. LAURIOLA (Italy, spoke on behalf of the European Union, as well as Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovak Republic, Cyprus, Malta, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. He said that while the countries of the Union still considered the Commission the specialized and deliberative body of the United Nations disarmament machinery, their expectations had been frustrated by the failure of the Commission to reach agreement at its 1995 session on two of its three agenda items -- the process of nuclear disarmament and the declaration of the 1990s as the third disarmament decade. Commission effectiveness would be enhanced if it were to have more focused items for its consideration, "in order to truly contribute to disarmament on a multilateral and regional scale".
He went on to say that all aspects of transfers of arms deserved close scrutiny by the international community. He expressed satisfaction that the working group on the issue of arms transfers in 1995 had made progress on the structure and scope of a set of guidelines. Some further clarifications could be helpful to better focus on the distinction between the licit and illicit transfer of armaments. In the case of legal transfers under the responsibility and control of the States, there were already in place a number of measures which helped to ensure that such transfers did not lead to excessive and destabilizing accumulations of conventional weapons. Comprehensive controls for arms exports and effective enforcement of those controls was essential. In the case of illicit transfers, countries should focus on improved national legislative measures and their effective implementation, as well as on improving international cooperation and coordination to prevent illegal transfers.
Regarding the proposed fourth special session of the Assembly, he said that only an adequate preparation would offer an opportunity to assess the progress in the entire field of disarmament. Such a preparation would require a clear preliminary identification of the results expected by the session. The European Union, he added, had proposed the inclusion of a new item on the agenda, entitled "principles and guidelines on nuclear-weapon-free zones". He expressed regret that the proposal, which was supported by the overwhelming majority of the member States, had not achieved consensus agreement.
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ANDELFO F. GARCIA (Colombia) expressed the support for a fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament. It was an opportunity to review the most critical aspects of disarmament, as well as a chance to mobilize the international community and public opinion in favour of reducing arms of mass destruction and controlling the flow of conventional weapons. In that context, the General Assembly last year adopted resolution 50/70F convening the fourth special session devoted to disarmament.
The designation of 1997 as the date for that special session was decided upon in light of the fact that in 1996 a number of important disarmament negotiations would be completed, he continued. Following that negotiation cycle, it would be appropriate to have further review. Even with the end of the cold war, the world did not seem more predictable than in the bipolar years. Steps had been taken which made it possible to envisage greater progress, but that depended on the political resolve of States possessing nuclear weapons. The international community should set a course to develop specific and binding agreements.
At the first special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, the international community achieved consensus on an international disarmament strategy, he said. The first special session did not address itself only to nuclear disarmament. It foresaw the need for effective agreements to prohibit the development or use or production of other weapons of mass destruction, with an emphasis on chemical weapons. That session was not confined to weapons of mass destruction, but also encompassed the transfer of conventional arms. The whole disarmament machinery now in place was created as a result of that first special session. There was no other way to fashion the future. The two subsequent special sessions did not achieve such results. However, a fourth special session presented another opportunity to constructively advance disarmament into the next century.
Regarding international arms transfers, he said his country had proposed specific measures to curb such illicit trafficking. In a statement to the General Assembly, President Clinton had confirmed what a number of countries, including Colombia, had been affirming: it was a scourge to which no country was immune, and which resulted in pain, sorrow and death. Colombia appealed to all countries to join with the United States in order to deal with dubious arms markets and to avoid leaks and diversions.
He said the working group was aiming for consensus on a forthcoming text, which should serve as guidance for the domestic control of armaments, and in effective work to combat the illicit trade. National control methods would be strengthened, and measures aimed at international cooperation and coordination would be introduced. Harmonizing legal norms should also be considered, as well as the monitoring of imports and exports in order to make it impossible to divert arms through clandestine channels.
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ABDELKADER MESDOUA (Algeria) said the annual debate on disarmament questions in the Commission was beginning to serve as a barometer of progress achieved in the whole area. The Commission had an important role to play in clarifying various issues and formulating recommendations. Regarding illicit arms transfers, he said the current session was being asked to make considerable progress on that issue. The recommendations on that issue should be approved during the current session. One area of great concern was the problem of the illicit arms trade to various terrorist organizations. The particular role of producer countries should be stressed. The risk of destabilization posed by illicit arms transfers was considerable and called for action by the international community.
On the proposed fourth special session of the Assembly, he said it would be an opportunity for review of overall progress in disarmament. He noted the priority given to nuclear disarmament. Algeria had previously displayed its commitment to the goal of non-proliferation. While there had been no break in the impetus in the overall area of nuclear disarmament, actual progress appeared modest in comparison to expectations in the post-cold war era. The signing of the Pelindaba Treaty, creating a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa, was a recent example of progress in the African region. It was important, he added, to protect the rights of developing States regarding the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes.
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