DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE REQUESTED TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS ON CONVENTION TO PROHIBIT NUCLEAR WEAPON USE, IN FIRST COMMITTEE TEXT

11 November 1996

Press Release
GA/DIS/3069

DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE REQUESTED TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS ON CONVENTION TO PROHIBIT NUCLEAR WEAPON USE, IN FIRST COMMITTEE TEXT

19961111 Eight Disarmament Related Draft Resolutions Approved; Security Assurances, Nuclear Disarmament, 1925 Geneva Protocol Among Topics

The General Assembly would again request the Conference on Disarmament to begin negotiations for a convention to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons, under the terms of one of eight draft resolutions approved this afternoon by the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

That draft, which the Committee approved by a vote of 76 in favour to 26 against, with 24 abstentions, would have the Conference use a draft convention included in an annex to the text as the possible basis for such an agreement. The draft convention would have States parties "solemnly undertake not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons under any circumstances". (For details of the vote, see Annex I.)

The Assembly would reaffirm the urgent need to reach early agreement on security arrangements for non-nuclear-weapon States, by a draft resolution approved by a vote of 100 in favour to none against, with 43 abstentions. It would appeal to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work towards a common approach and common formula for a legally binding international instrument. (See Annex II.)

The Assembly would urge the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and delivery systems, by the terms of a draft on nuclear disarmament approved by a vote of 87 in favour to 38 against, with 20 abstentions. It would call on them to undertake a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and phased reductions of nuclear weapons with a view to their total elimination. (See Annex III.)

A draft on the 1925 Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, was approved by a vote of 132 in favour to none against, with 10 abstentions (Belarus, Israel, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Marshall Islands, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United States).

First Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/DIS/3069 18th Meeting (PM) 11 November 1996

By its terms, the Assembly would renew its previous call to all States to observe strictly the principles and objectives of the Protocol. (See Annex IV.)

Under the terms of texts approved this afternoon without a vote, the Assembly would:

-- call upon all signatory States that had not yet ratified the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) Weapons and on Their Destruction (Biological Weapons Convention) to do so without delay;

-- call upon African States to sign and ratify the African Nuclear- Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty) as soon as possible;

-- call upon all States to prevent the dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States and ask the Conference on Disarmament to take radioactive wastes into account in negotiations for a convention on the prohibition of nuclear weapons;

-- and reaffirm that effective measures be undertaken to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction and call on the Conference on Disarmament to keep the matter under review.

Statements were also made by Australia, Pakistan, China, Peru, Panama, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Yemen, New Zealand, Slovakia, United States, Spain, Israel, Republic of Korea, Iran, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil, Japan and Iran.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Tuesday, 12 November, to continue taking action on remaining nuclear-related drafts, drafts on conventional weapons, and on regional disarmament and security.

Committee Work Programme The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this afternoon to continue taking action on disarmament draft resolutions and decisions. It had before it nuclear weapon-related texts on: the convention prohibiting nuclear weapons, the Africa Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba), security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon States, and nuclear disarmament. It also had before it drafts concerning: biological weapons, prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes, prohibition of the development of new types of weapons of mass destruction, and measures to uphold the authority of the 1925 Geneva Protocol. A draft resolution on a convention to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/51/L.19/Rev.1), would have the Assembly reiterate its request that the Conference on Disarmament begin negotiations on an international convention to prohibit the use or threatened use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. It would use, as a possible basis for that text, a draft convention annexed to the draft resolution. The draft resolution is sponsored by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Sudan and Viet Nam. By a draft resolution on the Treaty of Pelindaba (document A/C.1/51/L.23), the Assembly would call upon African States to sign and ratify that Treaty as soon as possible, so it can enter into force without delay. It would call upon the States contemplated in its Protocol III to take all necessary measures to ensure the Treaty's speedy application to territories for which they are internationally responsible or which lie within the geographical zone established in the Treaty. Further terms of the text would have the Assembly call on the African States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which have not yet concluded comprehensive safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to do so, thereby satisfying a requirement of the Pelindaba Treaty. The draft resolution is sponsored by Burundi on behalf of the African Group of States. A draft resolution on security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon States (document A/C.1/51/L.30) would have the Assembly reaffirm the urgent need to reach early agreement on such security arrangements. It would note with satisfaction that there was no objection in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the idea of an international convention to assure non-nuclear- weapon States against the threat or use of such weapons, although the difficulties of evolving an approach acceptable to all have also been pointed out.

The draft would have the Assembly appeal to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work towards early agreement on a common approach and common formula that could be included in a legally binding international instrument. It would recommend that further intensive efforts be devoted to

the search for such an approach or formula. It would also recommend that the Conference should continue its intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international arrangements for such security assurances.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Viet Nam and Zaire.

By a draft resolution on nuclear disarmament (document A/C.1/51/L.39), the Assembly would urge the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems. It would call on them to undertake step- by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and a phased programme of progressive and balanced deep reductions of nuclear weapons, and to carry out nuclear disarmament measures with a view to totally eliminating those weapons within a time-bound framework.

The Conference on Disarmament would be called on to give priority to establishing an ad hoc committee to begin negotiations early in 1997 on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament, aimed at the eventual elimination of those weapons through a nuclear-weapons convention. It would also be urged to take account of the proposal of 28 delegations for a programme of action for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

The draft is sponsored by Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

A draft resolution (document A.C.1/51/L.2) on the Biological Weapons Convention would have the General Assembly request the Secretary-General to continue assistance to the depositary Governments of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) Weapons and on Their Destruction (Biological Weapons Convention). The Assembly would provide such services as may be required for implementation of the decisions of the Review Conferences of the States Parties to the Convention.

The draft would have the Assembly welcome the convening of the Fourth Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention at Geneva from 25 November to 6 December 1996. The Assembly would call upon all signatory States that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so without delay, and call upon States that have not signed the Convention to become parties at an early date in order to help achieve universal adherence to the Convention.

The draft is sponsored by Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,

Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.

A draft resolution (document A/C.1/51/L.24) on the prohibition of the dumping of nuclear wastes would have the Assembly take note of the report of the Conference on Disarmament relating to a future convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons. The Assembly would express grave concern regarding any use of nuclear wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and have grave implications for the security of all States.

The draft would have the Assembly call upon all States to prevent dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States. It would request the Conference on Disarmament, in negotiations for a convention on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, to take radioactive wastes into account as part of the scope of such a convention. It would further request the Conference to intensify efforts towards early conclusion of such a convention.

The Assembly would take note of the resolution adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), on the Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import of Hazardous Wastes into Africa and on the Control of Their Transboundary Movements within Africa. It would express the hope that effective implementation of the IAEA Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste will enhance protection of all States from dumping of radioactive wastes on their territories. The draft would also have the Assembly welcome the current efforts of the IAEA in preparation of a draft convention on the safe management of radioactive wastes, as well as the recommendations made by participants at the Moscow summit on nuclear safety and security.

The draft is sponsored by Burundi on behalf of the African Group, France and the Russian Federation.

A 34-Power draft resolution on prohibition of the development of new types of weapons of mass destruction (document A/C.1/51/L.36) would have the Assembly call upon all States, immediately following any recommendation of the Conference on Disarmament, to give favourable consideration to those recommendations. In reaffirming that effective measures should be taken to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction, the Assembly would request the Conference to keep the matter under review. The Secretary-General would be requested to transmit to the Conference all documents relating to consideration of this item, and would request the Conference to report the results of any consideration of the matter in its annual reports to the Assembly.

The draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakstan, Krgyzstan, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Viet Nam.

By a draft resolution submitted by Colombia, on behalf of States Members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, on the authority of the 1925 Geneva Protocol (document A/C.1/51/L.41), the Assembly would renew its previous call to all States to observe strictly the principles and objectives of the 1925 Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare.

By further terms of the text, the Assembly would call upon those States that continued to maintain reservations to the 1925 Geneva Protocol to withdraw those reservations. The Secretary-General would be requested to submit at the Assembly's fifty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution.

Action on draft texts

Speaking before the vote on the draft resolution on a convention to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons, the representative of Australia said he shared the strong desire to see a world free of nuclear weapons, but the draft lacked the required balance. It failed to reflect the priority he attached to NPT, as the cornerstone for nuclear non-proliferation. He would therefore abstain on the draft.

The representative of Pakistan said he would vote in favour of the draft, on the basis of the Charter's strictures on the threat or use of force, and on the recent World Court opinion.

The draft resolution on a convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons was approved by a recorded vote of 76 in favour to 26 against, with 24 abstentions. (For details of the vote see Annex I.)

The representative of China, speaking in explanation of vote, said he voted in favour of the draft because China had always advocated that all the nuclear-weapon countries undertake that under no circumstances should they be the first to use nuclear weapons or threaten to use them against non-nuclear weapon countries or in nuclear-weapon-free zones. He advocated a legally binding instrument in that regard. The draft would give impetus to the goal of the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, and could be used as a basis for future negotiations.

The representatives of Peru, Panama, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Yemen said that although they were not present for the vote, their intention was to vote in favour of the draft.

The representative of New Zealand said he had abstained from the vote. Although he agreed with its premise, the way to achieve that outcome was through practical disarmament measures, such as the Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). A convention banning those weapons might be an important process at some point, but now was not the time. Such a convention would require the participation of all nuclear-weapon States.

The representative of Slovakia said he was not present for the vote and would have voted against the draft.

The representative of the United States said he voted against the draft for reasons that were well-known. The draft stated that the present convention would enter into force upon the deposit of instruments of ratification of 25 governments, including the five nuclear-weapon States. The United States said that such a provision for the convention's entry into force was an attack on the sovereignty of his country.

The draft resolution on the Treaty of Pelindaba, as orally amended, was then approved without a vote.

Speaking after action on the text, the representative of Spain said that, as had occurred last year, his country had joined in the consensus on the Treaty of Pelindaba. That was in keeping with Spanish policy on the non- proliferation of nuclear weapons. Spain had frequently said in the course of the Pelindaba negotiations that it supported the Treaty's objectives. As a State party to the NPT, Spain was carefully examining the final text of the Pelindaba Treaty in legal terms. In other words, his participation in today's consensus did not prejudge its position on further texts.

The representative of Israel said that he had voted in favour of the draft. However, Israel held the position that negotiations for each nuclear- weapon-free zone should be approached from the standpoint of the specific circumstances prevailing in that region.

The draft on security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon States was then approved by a recorded vote of 100 in favour to none against, with 43 abstentions (see Annex II).

Speaking in explanation of vote after the vote, the representative of Australia said that the goal of the draft represented an important confidence- building measure, which was why he had voted in its favour. However, his country was disappointed at the impoverished nature of the language of the draft and would work next year to ensure that the resolution was strong enough to be acted on.

The representative of the Republic of Korea said he had abstained on the draft, which his country had traditionally supported. The draft failed to take into proper account major events in the nuclear security assurances field. Such assurances should be provided only to States parties to the NPT that were in full compliance with the provisions of the Treaty.

The representative of Iran said that he had intended to vote in favour of the draft.

The representative of Nigeria said that she had intended to vote in favour of the draft, which her country had co-sponsored.

The representative of South Africa, speaking in explanation of position on the draft on nuclear disarmament, said he did not support the draft because if failed to recognize the key roles played by the NPT, nuclear-weapon-free zones, and the Comprehensive-Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The fundamental flaw of the text was the linkage it created between the negotiation of nuclear disarmament treaties, which was the singular threat to progress.

The representative of Australia said that, while his country was firmly committed to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, it did not favour debate on an artificial timetable. The current draft did not advance the cause of disarmament in any concrete or practical way. Practical measures and a patient and dogged pursuit of the interlocking steps was needed. It did not make sense to link the processes, holding them hostage to one another. He would therefore vote against the draft.

The draft on a step-by-step approach to nuclear disarmament was approved by a recorded vote of 87 in favour to 38 against, with 20 abstentions (Annex III).

Speaking after the vote, the representative of Brazil said he voted in favour of the draft, but dissociated himself from the content of sixth preambular paragraph which links various agreements for a time-bound framework, and would have abstained if a separate vote on that paragraph had been requested. While he fully endorsed the objective of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, any partial or progressive measures were welcome.

The representative of China said he voted in favour of the draft because he supported the text's goal and objectives. His Government had requested a nuclear-weapons convention at the forty-ninth session of the Assembly, and had also set forth a series of inter-related nuclear disarmament proposals. China absolutely would not evade its responsibilities towards nuclear disarmament. Nuclear-weapon States should review and revise their obsolete theories, and continue to dramatically reduce their nuclear arsenals.

The representative of New Zealand said he had abstained on the vote because his delegation favoured a series of practical measures, such as the adoption of the CTBT and the hoped-for convention on the prohibition of fissile material for weapons purposes. Calling for nuclear disarmament negotiations in a time-bound framework ignored global and regional security developments and was not conducive to advancing the common goal.

Speaking in explanation of vote, the representative of Japan said that her country fervently desired that the use of nuclear weapons would never be repeated. However, in light of the current international situation and the fact that nuclear weapons did exist, it was more useful to move progressively

towards the goal of the elimination of nuclear weapons, rather than according to the time-bound framework proposed in the draft just voted on. Japan had therefore abstained from voting. She understood that the draft was not the product of coordinated consultations with the countries concerned, such as the Russian Federation, the United States and other nuclear-weapon States. Moreover, the draft contained no reference to the highly important NPT review process, which Japan considered one of the most effective and realistic frameworks for the promotion of nuclear disarmament.

The representative of Iran said he had reservations about one preambular paragraph in the draft on the Treaty of Pelindaba. His reservations were in regard to the designation of the Middle East as an area of tension. He did not share that view. All areas of the world were seats of tension. Iran's reservations on that score held good for many other resolutions before the Committee.

The draft on the Biological Weapons Convention was approved without a vote.

The representative of Israel, speaking in explanation of his consensus vote on the prohibition of biological weapons, said he supported their global prohibition. However, such a convention must include, comprehensively, all States of the region of the Middle East, and have, as a minimum, a mutually agreed upon verification regime.

The Committee approved the draft on the dumping of nuclear wastes without a vote.

Speaking after action on the draft, the representative of the United States said he sympathized with the main thrust of the draft highlighting the hazards of disposing nuclear waste. The First Committee, however, was not the appropriate forum with which to deal with what was essentially an environmental issue.

The representative of Australia said that the South Pacific Forum, which was negotiating a ban on the import of hazardous and radioactive wastes in their countries, had not reached a successful conclusion. Adding proposals in that regard to a draft on the subject would have to wait until next year.

Action

The draft on the prohibition of the development of new types of weapons of mass destruction was approved without a vote.

The draft on the 1925 Geneva Protocol was approved by a recorded vote of 132 in favour to none against, with 10 abstentions (Belarus, Israel, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Marshall Islands, Republic of Korea, United States, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United States).

Right of Reply

The representative of Iraq said that the representative of Israel had referred to Iraq during his explanation of vote on the draft on the Biological Weapons Convention. Israel possessed all types of weapons of mass destruction -- nuclear, chemical and biological. The claim that Israel wished to negotiate with the States of the region on the issue was simply a pretext to justify Israel's continued possession of nuclear weapons and its continuing blackmail of the States of the region. His own country was subject to enforcement action under Chapter VII of the Charter, even though it had violated none of its obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention.

(annexes follow)

ANNEX I

Vote on Convention on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

The draft resolution on a convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/L.19/Rev.1) was approved by a recorded vote of 76 in favour to 26 against, with 24 abstentions:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine.

Absent: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Comoros, Croatia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen.

(END OF ANNEX I)

First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3069 18th Meeting (PM) 11 November 1996

ANNEX II

Vote on Assurances for Non-Nuclear Weapon States

The draft resolution on the conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear weapons States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/51/L.30) was approved by a recorded vote of 100 in favour to none against, with 43 abstentions:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: None.

Abstaining: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

Absent: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saints Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

(END OF ANNEX II)

First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3069 18th Meeting (PM) 11 November 1996

First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3069 18th Meeting (PM) 11 November 1996

ANNEX III

Vote on Nuclear Disarmament

The draft resolution on nuclear disarmament, which calls for a step-by- step reduction of the nuclear threat and the total elimination of nuclear weapons in a time-bound framework, (document A/C.1/51/L.39) was approved by a recorded vote of 87 in favour to 38 against, with 20 abstentions:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Cyprus, Georgia, Japan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, South Africa, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Ukraine.

Absent: Albania, Antigua-Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cambodia, Comoros, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

(END OF ANNEX III)

First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3069 18th Meeting (PM) 11 November 1996

ANNEX IV

Vote on Measures to Uphold 1925 Geneva Protocol

The draft resolution on measures to uphold the authority of the 1925 Geneva Protocol for the prohibition of the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases and of bacteriological methods of warfare (document A/C.1/51/L.41) was approved by a recorded vote of 132 in favour to none against, with 10 abstentions:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, 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 Moldova, Romania, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Abstaining: Belarus, Israel, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Marshall Islands, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United States.

Absent: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cambodia, Comoros, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Jordan, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

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