ASSEMBLY WOULD CALL FOR CONTINUED ACTION TO PREVENT VIOLENT DISINTEGRATION OF STATES, UNDER FIRST COMMITTEE DRAFT

6 November 1996

Press Release
GA/DIS/3066

ASSEMBLY WOULD CALL FOR CONTINUED ACTION TO PREVENT VIOLENT DISINTEGRATION OF STATES, UNDER FIRST COMMITTEE DRAFT

19961106 Texts Also Address Transparency, Arms Traffic, Outer Space, Disarmament Commission, Military Expenditures

The General Assembly would call on all States, relevant international organizations and competent United Nations organs to continue their actions aimed at preventing of the violent disintegration of States, by the terms of a draft resolution introduced this afternoon in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

The draft resolution was introduced by the representative of The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, who stressed the seriousness of the problem, particularly in his own region. The text advocated preventive measures for the maintenance of international security, he said.

By the terms of a 91-Power draft on transparency in armaments, the Assembly would call on Member States to provide data and information for the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms and repeat its call for cooperation at the regional and subregional levels among all Member States, with a view to increasing openness and transparency in armaments.

Introducing the text, the representative of the Netherlands said the Register was a practical confidence-building measure. As part of its functioning, it highlighted the imports and exports of seven categories of conventional arms which could be particularly destabilizing if accumulated in quantities beyond what was needed for legitimate self-defence, he said.

By a text on curbing illicit small-arms traffic, introduced by Mali, the Assembly would encourage the setting up in the countries of the Saharo- Sahelian subregion of national commissions against the proliferation of small arms. It would welcome Mali's action to collect such arms in affected States of the region. A text introduced by Afghanistan, on curbing illicit conventional-arms transfers, would invite Member States to enact national legislation to exercise control over their export and import.

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The Assembly would call on all States, particularly those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to peaceful use of outer space and prevention of an outer space arms race, under a another draft resolution, introduced by Egypt. It would also reaffirm its recognition that the legal regime applicable to outer space must be reinforced.

A text on objective information on military matters would have the Assembly call on all Member States to report annually to the Secretary-General on their military expenditures for the latest fiscal year. By another text, it would endorse the guidelines for international arms transfers adopted by the Disarmament Commission in 1996, and reaffirm its role as the specialized deliberative body in the United Nations disarmament machinery. Both drafts were introduced by the representative of Germany.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Romania and Cambodia.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. tomorrow, 7 November, to continue its consideration of draft resolutions and decisions on disarmament and international security matters.

Committee Work Programme

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this afternoon to continue its consideration of draft resolutions and decisions on disarmament. It had before it draft resolutions on the report of the Disarmament Commission, curbing the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms, illicit traffic in small arms, preventing of the violent disintegration of States, and preventing an outer space arms race.

By a 12-Power draft resolution on the report of the Disarmament Commission (document A/C.1/51/L.5), the Assembly would endorse the set of guidelines for international arms transfers adopted by the Commission at its 1996 session. It would reaffirm the Commission's role as the specialized body within the United Nations disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberation on disarmament issues, leading to the submission of specific recommendations.

The Assembly would encourage the Commission to continue enhancing its working methods to enable it to give focused consideration to a limited number of priority issues, bearing in mind its decision to move its agenda towards a three-item phased approach. Pursuant to that approach, the Assembly would recommend that the Disarmament Commission adopt three items to be specified at the Commission's 1996 organizational session -- for consideration at its 1997 substantive session. It would also ask that the Commission meet for a period not exceeding four weeks during 1997.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Colombia, Finland, Germany, Jordan, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and the United Republic of Tanzania.

A 5-Power text on curbing the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms (document A/C.1/51/L.16), would welcome adoption by the Disarmament Commission of its guidelines for international arms transfers. It would invite Member States to enact national legislation and regulations and adopt administrative procedures to exercise control over arms and their export and import. It would invite them to report to the Secretary-General by 15 April 1997 on those measures and to provide their views on ways of collecting illicitly transferred weapons, as well as on proposals for national, regional and international measures to curb the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, Cambodia, Nicaragua, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

By an 89-Power draft resolution on transparency in armaments (document A/C.1/51/L.18), the Assembly would call on Member States to provide data and information for the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. It would recall its request to Member States to provide the Secretary-General with

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their views on the further development of the Register and on transparency measures relating to weapons of mass destruction. It would also recall its request that he prepare a report on the continuous operation of the Register, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in 1997.

The Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to ensure that sufficient resources were made available for the operation and maintenance of the Register. It would invite the Conference on Disarmament to consider continuing its work on transparency of armaments. It would repeat its call for cooperation at the regional and subregional levels among all Member States, with a view to increasing openness and transparency in armaments.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

A 15-Power draft resolution on curbing the illicit traffic in small arms (document A/C.1/51/L.35) would have the Assembly encourage the Secretary- General to continue his efforts to curb their circulation and to collect them in affected States that so requested. That would be done 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).

By other terms of the text, the Assembly would encourage the setting up in the countries of the Saharo-Sahelian subregion of national commissions against the proliferation of small arms. It would also welcome Mali's action to collect such arms in the affected States of that region.

The draft is sponsored by Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Togo.

Under a draft resolution sponsored by The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (document A/C.1/51/L.42), the Assembly would call on all States, relevant international organizations and competent United Nations organs to continue their actions aimed at preventing of the violent disintegration of

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States. It would also ask those States and organizations to communicate their views on the matter to the Secretary-General.

By other terms of the text, the Assembly would stress the importance of good-neighbourliness and friendly relations among States to the solution of problems among them and affirm the need for strict compliance with the principle of the inviolability of international borders.

[A revised version of this text, under the symbol A/C.1/51/L.42/Rev.1, is to be issued.]

An 11-Power draft resolution on preventing an outer space arms race (document A/C.1/51/L.43) would have the Assembly reaffirm its recognition that the legal regime applicable to outer space by itself did not guarantee the prevention of such an arms race; while it played a significant role, it must be reinforced and its effectiveness enhanced. The Assembly would call on all States, particularly those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to peaceful use of outer space and prevention of an outer space arms race.

The Assembly would repeat that the Conference on Disarmament had the primary role in negotiating multilateral agreements on preventing such an arms race. It would ask the Conference to re-establish the relevant ad hoc committee with a negotiating mandate at the beginning of its 1997 session, with a view to negotiating such agreement or agreements. It would urge States conducting activities in outer space and those interested in doing so to keep the Conference informed of progress in their relevant bilateral and multilateral negotiations.

The draft is sponsored by Algeria, Bolivia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka.

By a 24-Power draft resolution on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military budgets (document A/C.1/51/L.47), the Assembly would recommend its guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters to all Member States for implementation. It would call on all Member States to report to the Secretary-General annually, by 30 April, their military expenditures for the latest fiscal year for which data are available. It would ask him to circulate those reports annually. It would also ask him to seek the views of Member States and make recommendations on necessary changes to the content and structure of the standardized reporting system of military expenditures, in order to strengthen and broaden participation.

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The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

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Committee Work Programme

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this afternoon to continue its consideration of draft resolutions and decisions on disarmament. It had before it draft resolutions on the report of the Disarmament Commission, curbing the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms, illicit traffic in small arms, preventing of the violent disintegration of States, and preventing an outer space arms race.

By a 12-Power draft resolution on the report of the Disarmament Commission (document A/C.1/51/L.5), the Assembly would endorse the set of guidelines for international arms transfers adopted by the Commission at its 1996 session. It would reaffirm the Commission's role as the specialized body within the United Nations disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberation on disarmament issues, leading to the submission of specific recommendations.

The Assembly would encourage the Commission to continue enhancing its working methods to enable it to give focused consideration to a limited number of priority issues, bearing in mind its decision to move its agenda towards a three-item phased approach. Pursuant to that approach, the Assembly would recommend that the Disarmament Commission adopt three items to be specified at the Commission's 1996 organizational session -- for consideration at its 1997 substantive session. It would also ask that the Commission meet for a period not exceeding four weeks during 1997.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Colombia, Finland, Germany, Jordan, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and the United Republic of Tanzania.

A 5-Power text on curbing the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms (document A/C.1/51/L.16), would welcome adoption by the Disarmament Commission of its guidelines for international arms transfers. It would invite Member States to enact national legislation and regulations and adopt administrative procedures to exercise control over arms and their export and import. It would invite them to report to the Secretary-General by 15 April 1997 on those measures and to provide their views on ways of collecting illicitly transferred weapons, as well as on proposals for national, regional and international measures to curb the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, Cambodia, Nicaragua, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

By an 89-Power draft resolution on transparency in armaments (document A/C.1/51/L.18), the Assembly would call on Member States to provide data and information for the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. It would

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recall its request to Member States to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the further development of the Register and on transparency measures relating to weapons of mass destruction. It would also recall its request that he prepare a report on the continuous operation of the Register, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in 1997.

The Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to ensure that sufficient resources were made available for the operation and maintenance of the Register. It would invite the Conference on Disarmament to consider continuing its work on transparency of armaments. It would repeat its call for cooperation at the regional and subregional levels among all Member States, with a view to increasing openness and transparency in armaments.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

A 15-Power draft resolution on curbing the illicit traffic in small arms (document A/C.1/51/L.35) would have the Assembly encourage the Secretary- General to continue his efforts to curb their circulation and to collect them in affected States that so requested. That would be done 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).

By other terms of the text, the Assembly would encourage the setting up in the countries of the Saharo-Sahelian subregion of national commissions against the proliferation of small arms. It would also welcome Mali's action to collect such arms in the affected States of that region.

The draft is sponsored by Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Togo.

Under a draft resolution sponsored by The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (document A/C.1/51/L.42), the Assembly would call on all States, relevant international organizations and competent United Nations organs to

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continue their actions aimed at preventing of the violent disintegration of States. It would also ask those States and organizations to communicate their views on the matter to the Secretary-General.

By other terms of the text, the Assembly would stress the importance of good-neighbourliness and friendly relations among States to the solution of problems among them and affirm the need for strict compliance with the principle of the inviolability of international borders.

[A revised version of this text, under the symbol A/C.1/51/L.42/Rev.1, is to be issued.]

An 11-Power draft resolution on preventing an outer space arms race (document A/C.1/51/L.43) would have the Assembly reaffirm its recognition that the legal regime applicable to outer space by itself did not guarantee the prevention of such an arms race; while it played a significant role, it must be reinforced and its effectiveness enhanced. The Assembly would call on all States, particularly those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to peaceful use of outer space and prevention of an outer space arms race.

The Assembly would repeat that the Conference on Disarmament had the primary role in negotiating multilateral agreements on preventing such an arms race. It would ask the Conference to re-establish the relevant ad hoc committee with a negotiating mandate at the beginning of its 1997 session, with a view to negotiating such agreement or agreements. It would urge States conducting activities in outer space and those interested in doing so to keep the Conference informed of progress in their relevant bilateral and multilateral negotiations.

The draft is sponsored by Algeria, Bolivia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka.

By a 24-Power draft resolution on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military budgets (document A/C.1/51/L.47), the Assembly would recommend its guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters to all Member States for implementation. It would call on all Member States to report to the Secretary-General annually, by 30 April, their military expenditures for the latest fiscal year for which data are available. It would ask him to circulate those reports annually. It would also ask him to seek the views of Member States and make recommendations on necessary changes to the content and structure of the standardized reporting system of military expenditures, in order to strengthen and broaden participation.

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The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Introduction of Texts

MAGED A. ABDEL AZIZ (Egypt) introduced the draft resolution on preventing an outer space arms race, announcing the addition of Brunei Darussalam, Mongolia and Nigeria as co-sponsors. He said further efforts were needed in the Conference on Disarmament to complement bilateral moves for a binding agreement to avert a possible resumption of that arms race. The current text reflected some changes made to galvanize the widest possible support. Most prominent was new language urging States interested in conducting activities in outer space to keep the Conference informed of progress in multilateral or bilateral negotiations aimed at preventing an outer space arms race.

WOLFGANG HOFFMANN (Germany) introduced the draft resolution on the report of the Disarmament Commission, to which certain technical changes would be coming, following informal consultations among members of the Commission. It would be changed to state that "significant progress" had been achieved on the Commission's work regarding the special session on disarmament. Agreement was also reached on two items for the Commission's 1997 substantive session. Those items, to be included in the revised draft resolution, addressed establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones based on arrangements freely arrived among concerned regional States, and the fourth special session on disarmament. No agreement had yet been reached on a third item.

He then introduced the draft resolution on objective information on military matters, announcing the addition of Japan to the list of co-sponsors. He said that standardized reporting on military expenditures gave a more general overview of monies spent on personnel, maintenance, research and development. Such reporting could significantly increase confidence and decrease the level of suspicion among States. The draft had no financial implications.

ROMULUS NEAGU (Romania), speaking with respect to the text on objective information on military matters, said increased transparency led to increased confidence. It thus led to creation of the necessary environment for reducing military activities, armaments, troops and budgets. Openness, transparency and confidence-building measures clearly had gained global importance.

Strengthening confidence-building, as provided for in the current draft, helped prevent misunderstanding and miscalculations that could lead to military confrontation, he said. Such measures could also lead to a realistic reduction in military budgets. The United Nations system for the standardized

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reporting of military expenditures had proved instrumental over the past decade. That was particularly true in Europe, where it provided the basis for a European system of military reporting. That had resulted in a reduction of conventional forces in Europe.

Just over 20 Member States had participated in the United Nations reporting system during 1995, he said. The call in the current draft for all States to report their military expenditures for the past fiscal year to the Secretary-General each year was well placed. The reporting system could be improved in order to assure broader participation.

MOCTAR OUANE (Mali) introduced the draft resolution (document A/C.1/51/L.35) on assistance to States in curbing the illicit traffic in small arms. He said it reflected the co-sponsors' commitment to the overall goal of general and complete disarmament. Their initiative helped draw the attention of the international community to the disastrous consequences of small arms, particularly in developing countries where they kindled the flames of conflict.

NASTE CALOVSKI (The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) introduced the draft resolution (document A/C.1/51/L.42) on preventing the violent disintegration of States, also sponsored by Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Norway, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and Zaire. The subject was a very serious one, particularly in his own region, he said. It was hoped that the draft, which advocated preventive measures in the maintenance of international security, would be approved without a vote.

JAAP RAMAKER (Netherlands) introduced the draft resolution on transparency in armaments, announcing the addition of Zaire and Liberia as co-sponsors. The Register of Conventional Arms was a practical confidence- building measure, he said. It highlighted the imports and exports of seven categories of conventional arms which could be particularly destabilizing if accumulated in quantities beyond what was needed for legitimate self-defence.

He also drew attention to the draft resolution on the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively Injurious or To Have Indiscriminate Effects -- of which the Netherlands was a co-sponsor. He said the Review Conference's actions last May to further restrict the use and transfer of land-mines and to prohibit a whole category of new weapons marked an important achievement in the humanitarian sphere.

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ABDUL GHAFAR OSMAN (Afghanistan) introduced the draft resolution on curbing the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms. He said it stressed that massive quantities of such arms and their illicit transfer was a disturbing, destabilizing phenomenon, which also resulted in human rights abuses. By passing peaceful means of resolving disputes, mercenaries, terrorists and child soldiers turned to violence, which required the illicit transfer of such arms. A revised draft would be issued, incorporating minor, non-substantive changes, he said.

OK SOCHEAT (Cambodia) drew attention to the draft resolution on anti- personnel land-mines (document A/C.1/51/L.46), introduced in the Committee meeting on 4 November. Supporting the text, he said many such weapons had been placed in his country. It was hoped that States which claimed they were necessary for protection would soon find other methods. Pending an international agreement to completely eliminate land-mines, all States were urged to renounce their use, production, stockpiling and transfer, on either an individual or collective basis.

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