DISARMAMENT COMMISSION, PREPARING FOR 1997 SESSION, TO HOLD FURTHER MEETING TO REVIEW AGENDA ITEMS

Press Release
DC/2573

DISARMAMENT COMMISSION, PREPARING FOR 1997 SESSION, TO HOLD FURTHER MEETING TO REVIEW AGENDA ITEMS

The Disarmament Commission, in a resumed organizational session, this morning discussed items to be included in the provisional agenda of its 1997 substantive session. That session, it was decided, should be held on 21 April through 13 May.

The meeting was chaired by the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Andelfo Garcia (Colombia). In another action, the Commission decided to defer to its next organizational meeting consideration of a proposal of the United States to alter the wording of the first of three items of its provisional agenda. The item concerns nuclear-weapon-free zones.

The other items on that provisional agenda would deal with the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament; and guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament, with particular emphasis on consolidation of peace.

The Commission also decided this morning to defer to its next session consideration of the members of the Bureau of the Disarmament Commission, and the programme of work and appointment of chairmen for the Commission's subsidiary bodies.

Discussion this morning focused on a proposal by the representative of the United States to add the words "Principles and guidelines for" to the current wording of the first agenda item, so that the item would read as follows: "Principles and guidelines for the establishment of nuclear-weapon- free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the states of the region concerned".

The representative of Mexico, in response to the proposal, favoured retention of the original language which, he said, represented the result of previous, lengthy consultations. To limit the item exclusively to principles

Disarmament Commission - 2 - Press Release DC/2573 207th Meeting (AM) 9 December 1996

and guidelines, she added, would narrow the focus of the Commission's consideration. The proposed change in wording could also prejudge the outcome of regional deliberations regarding the establishment of particular nuclear- weapons-free zones.

The representative of Cuba also expressed concern about the proposal to change the wording. He said the wording had been intensively considered, and he hoped that further discussion could be avoided.

The representative of Romania said that even under the current wording, it was understood that the Commission's role was confined to discussion of principles and guidelines.

Also this morning, the representative of Indonesia, speaking in behalf of Ambassador Nugroho Wisnumurti of Indonesia, Chairman of the Open-Ended Consultation Group of the Commission, said that consensus had been reached following informal consultations on the third item for the 1997 substantive session, namely arms control/limitation and disarmament.

Also speaking this morning, generally in support of the original wording or reluctant to change it without further consultation, were the representatives of Egypt, India, France, Germany, Belarus, Norway, Russian Federation, and Algeria.

The next organizational session of the Disarmament Commission will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, 11 December.

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