COMPREHENSIVE TEST-BAN TREATY WILL ENCOURAGE GREATER NUCLEAR ARSENAL CUTS, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF PREPARATORY COMMISSION TELLS FIRST COMMITTEE

23 October 1997

Press Release
GA/DIS/3088

COMPREHENSIVE TEST-BAN TREATY WILL ENCOURAGE GREATER NUCLEAR ARSENAL CUTS, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF PREPARATORY COMMISSION TELLS FIRST COMMITTEE

19971023 Describes Progress in Setting Up International Monitoring System; Iran Says Shortcomings in Treaty Cast Shadow Over Comprehensiveness

The Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive-Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) -- responsible for setting up the Treaty's global verification regime -- told the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) this morning that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) would contribute to ending the qualitative arms race and encourage much deeper cuts in nuclear arsenals.

Speaking as the Committee continued its general debate, Wolfgang Hoffman, said that the Treaty was one of the most economical ways to make the world a safer place. It would help to halt the development of new nuclear weapons by imposing a global ban on nuclear explosions. With verification at the core of the work, its international monitoring system was progressing towards setting up a worldwide network of 321 seismic, infrasound, hydroacoustic and radionuclide stations.

The representative of Iran said, however, that, given the insistence by the nuclear-weapon States to limit the scope of the Treaty, it had lost its ability to prevent the further development of nuclear weapons. Its shortcomings had "cast a shadow over its true comprehensiveness". The nuclear Powers were able to utilize advanced technology and further develop their nuclear stockpiles. Furthermore, a sub-critical test, conducted by a State that had already signed the Treaty, contradicted the Treaty's spirit and objectives.

Several other speakers also discussed the Treaty's effectiveness. The representative of Bulgaria said that the CTBT was an effective tool against the vertical and horizontal proliferation of nuclear weapons. The representative of Chile said, with verification the backbone of the Treaty, his country had already established regional monitoring facilities in support of the Commission's activities.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Peru, Togo, Morocco, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Singapore, Costa Rica, Maldives and Tunisia.

The First Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Friday, 24 October, to conclude its general debate.

Committee Work Programme

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this morning to continue its general exchange of views on a wide range of disarmament initiatives and a number of international disarmament agreements.

Among the nuclear disarmament issues under review is the adoption last year of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), so far signed by 148 States and ratified by seven countries. Following the CTBT's opening for signature in September 1996, a Preparatory Commission for the CTBT Organization (CTBTO) was set up to establish the Treaty's global verification regime and to prepare for its entry into force. The CTBT requires ratification by the 44 States listed in its annex to enter into force. The Committee will also assess the implementation of the principles and objectives of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament that were adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

In the context of assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States, the Committee is expected to focus on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones. Such zones have already been created by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco); the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga); the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Bangkok); and the African Nuclear- Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty). Committee drafts are anticipated for the establishment of similar zones in South Asia, Central Europe, and the Middle East.

Another matter before the Committee is the convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, subject to the emergence of a consensus and agenda. The role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the international non-proliferation regime will also be considered.

The Committee is expected to focus attention on the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (Chemical Weapons Convention). It will consider the multilateral efforts under way to strengthen the verification mechanism of the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (Biological Weapons Convention).

Also under discussion will be the treaty agreed to in Oslo following the so-called "Ottawa process" -- the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. The Committee will also consider ways to further negotiations on that weapon in the Conference on Disarmament, namely Protocol II of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional

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Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons).

(For more background, see Press Release GA/DIS/3079 of 9 October.)

Statements

FERNANDO GUILLEN (Peru) said that his country was one of the first to sign the CTBT in September 1996, and had now ratified it. Although the CTBT was an important step forward, some fundamental decisions remained unimplemented, particularly those entered into by the nuclear Powers. In that regard, he hoped that the demand for nuclear disarmament would be reflected in reality and he appealed to all States to assume their own responsibilities so that the CTBT could quickly enter into force.

He said that of paramount importance was the speedy commencement and rapid conclusion of negotiations in good faith leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, in accordance with the opinion of the International Court of Justice. The establishment of the nuclear-weapon-free zones was welcome, as well as the establishment of such a zone in the southern hemisphere. However, there should be greater inter-linkage among various regional and nuclear-weapon-free zone agreements.

He said that conventional disarmament progress was essential, as the most recent conflicts -- ever more "death-dealing" -- had demonstrated. He was, therefore, firmly committed to the elimination of anti-personnel landmines, which killed and mutilated non-combatants. In July, his Government ratified the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and its revised Protocol II. As a supporter of the Ottawa process, he would sign the agreement reached in Oslo. However, the success of that Convention depended on universal will and commitment.

Conventional disarmament could progress in his region, he said. To that end, he attached particular importance to bilateral consultations on confidence-building, which was a prerequisite for peace and development. He also supported ceilings on weapons procurement. In addition, Peru had supported the establishment in 1991 of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms and, since 1993, had consistently reported to it. Yet, its success required the timely reporting by all States.

Since the process of economic and social development was linked to disarmament, all resources derived from the disarmament process should be used for economic and social development, he added. Towards the goal of regional disarmament, the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean could be useful in promoting new ideas.

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JUAN LARRAIN (Chile) said that since the end of the era of bipolar confrontation there had been many areas of progress in disarmament. He noted, in particular, the establishment of the provisional technical secretariat of the CTBT, which was beginning to proceed with the practical tasks of the Treaty. The monitoring organization for the verification provision of the Treaty was the backbone of the CTBT and his country had contributed to that by establishing facilities to carry out systematic monitoring in its region. He hoped the ratification process of the Treaty would actively continue.

Much work remained to be done and an important next step would be the negotiation of a cut-off treaty for the production of fissile material, he said. He was committed to the Conference on Disarmament and believed consensus was important in questions of nuclear disarmament. The effort to connect nuclear disarmament to a phased programme of action was not the right approach. It was important to make bilateral efforts, but he still attached importance to multilateral negotiations within United Nations bodies, especially the Conference on Disarmament.

He supported the decision to strengthen the review process of the NPT, he said. His country had participated in that process and welcomed it. He also supported the Chemical Weapons Convention and called on all countries, especially the Russian Federation, to sign and ratify the Treaty, as universality was essential. He also supported the strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention.

He supported a total ban on landmines, which had not been a part of his country's defence system for a long time, he said. Full participation in the Ottawa process was essential. His country followed a policy of transparency, which was supported by the landmine ban. The effective and global elimination of such weapons would be achieved only when the producers and exporters of such weapons had a practical reason to agree.

His country's defence outlook endorsed the fact that transparency in its region should be complete, he said. It recognized that there were different defence priorities for all States and that it was important to understand them. He was particularly concerned about the worldwide transportation of dangerous materials, particularly nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Such transportation should be controlled. Therefore, he called for greater information about routes, contingency plans in case of accidents and provisions for compensation in case of damage.

He also endorsed the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones and said that all States should continue along the path laid down by existing treaties. He noted that his region was now celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of Tlatelolco, which established the first such zone.

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KOMI MENSAH AFETO (Togo) said that the recent positive disarmament steps attested to the growing attention by the international community to that subject. The opinion of the International Court of Justice drew attention to the obligation to conclude negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament under strict international control.

In that regard, the Assembly last year urged the nuclear-weapon States and the Conference on Disarmament to commence such negotiations as soon as possible, he said. It was regrettable that the Conference was unable to do so and its members should therefore strive to extricate themselves from the present deadlock. The nuclear disarmament process must follow a strict timetable, including the commencement of negotiations to ban the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.

In the area of conventional disarmament, he said that Togo strongly opposed the use of certain weapons, such as anti-personnel landmines, which daily claimed the lives of thousands of victims worldwide. The revised Protocol of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and the positive conclusion of the Ottawa process were welcome. Combating the illicit traffic in small arms demanded concerted and rigorous action by governments and the international community, or those illegal activities would continue to endanger security and undermine social and economic developments.

He said that more specific measures aimed at strengthening the regional approach to disarmament and to building up the confidence of States was needed. The regional centres for peace and disarmament were established on the initiative of the First Committee, due to an increase in political instability. The revitalization of those centres required the appointment of a professionally skilled director. The interest of the United Nations Secretariat towards the goal of revitalizing the centres was welcome. In that regard, he appealed to all States and interested parties to make voluntary contributions to the special trust fund established for the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa.

MOHAMED AMAR (Morocco) said there had been significant progress in the area of arms control and disarmament over the last year, thanks to multilateral treaties agreed upon in the Conference on Disarmament. In particular, he noted progress on the NPT, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention. Bodies had also been created to provide for the better implementation of such treaties, for example the Chemical Weapons Convention Organization and the technical secretariat of the CTBT, which had taken its first steps.

However, progress should be consolidated on the question of nuclear weapons, especially in the region of the Middle East, he said. He was gravely concerned about nuclear activities in the region that were not devoted to peaceful ends. He called on all parties in the area to take steps towards the establishment of verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zones. Peace could not last

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without the equitable treatment of all parties, so a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East would promote peace and international security.

All States in the region except Israel were parties to the NPT, he said. Israel, the only country of the region with a nuclear arsenal, still refused to submit its nuclear facilities to the safeguards of the IAEA. He called on the international community to pressure Israel to accede to the NPT and to submit to IAEA safeguards. Israel should, in the meantime, take a less ambiguous approach to its nuclear policy.

On anti-personnel landmines, he reiterated his country's commitment to general and complete disarmament and fully endorsed the Ottawa process. He welcomed the fact that many countries had agreed to sign the convention in Ottawa in December. He also called for more balanced relations in the Mediterranean area, which suffered from inequality in growth. Social needs were much greater in the south of the region. The achievement of peace, security, harmony, development and understanding in the area was dependent upon a greater awareness on the part of all parties.

ALOUNKEO KITTIKHOUN (Lao People's Democratic Republic) said that the world situation continued to undergo deep and complex changes, with the elimination of nuclear weapons remaining a matter of the highest priority.

He said that the Non-Aligned Movement of countries, in line with the unanimous advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, called on the Conference on Disarmament to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of those weapons within a specified framework, including a nuclear weapons convention. The Court also insisted on the need to conclude a universal and legally binding multilateral agreement committing all States to the complete elimination of those weapons. Regrettably, the negative attitude of some of the nuclear-weapon States had prevented the Conference from launching those long-awaited negotiations. Those States should provide unconditional assurances to all non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of nuclear weapons under any circumstances -- an essential condition for the protection of all.

He said that he favoured the strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention. At the same time, because of the importance of biotechnology for economic development, any verification regime should take into account the security and economic interest of the developing countries that were parties to the Biological Weapons Convention. As for the NPT, it had been two years since its indefinite extension and the work towards nuclear disarmament was far from over. The Preparatory Commission of the NPT should engage immediately in substantive work for the full implementation of the obligations under the Treaty, and all States, particularly the nuclear-weapon States, should fulfil their promises, especially those relating to article VI of the Treaty.

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While he said he was pleased at the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention, he sincerely hoped that all States, including the declared possessors of those weapons, would ratify the Treaty at the earliest possible date. There was an urgent need to resolve all remaining issues in the framework of the Organization on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in order to pave the way for the effective, full and indiscriminate implementation of the Convention.

The illicit transfer and proliferation of small arms and light weapons posed a threat to the population and to national and regional security, he said. In that regard, States should adopt the necessary administrative and legislative measures to deal with the problem. The adoption in 1996 of guidelines on international arms transfers by the Disarmament Commission should be saluted.

The issue of anti-personnel landmines was another issue of serious concern for the international community. In that regard, the moratoriums and growing consensus against the indiscriminate use and transfer of that weapon was welcome. Any agreement to ban landmines should take into account the legitimate security concerns of States, as well as their legitimate rights to self-defence.

The treaties establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones should be strengthened, he continued. The strong aspirations of the people of those regions to be free of the nuclear threat deserved the full support of the international community. Turning to the role played by the United Nations centres for peace and disarmament, he said they should continue to promote arms control and build confidence and trust among the countries in their respective regions. In that regard, the initiatives provided by the centre in Asia and the Pacific, particularly known as the Kathmandu process, should be fully supported.

ANIL KUMAR (Singapore) said there had been undeniable disarmament progress in the post-cold war era. In the last year, for example, the preparatory process of the NPT Review Conference had begun, the Technical Secretariat of the CTBTO had been established, and START II between the two leading nuclear-weapon States had continued.

However, there had also been disappointment over the slow pace and direction of post-cold war disarmament, he said. Numerous intra-regional conflicts had broken out, but calls for greater control of small arms had been construed by those with vested interests to divert attention from nuclear disarmament and prevent developing countries from strengthening their defence-related capabilities. Questions had also been raised about the effectiveness of the Conference on Disarmament, and some had doubted its viability.

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The lesson of this dialogue was that disarmament was not a simple process, he said. It was not about simply banning a category of weapons and it could not be clinically insulated from the overall political and security context in which it occurred. For example, the anti-personnel landmine ban agreed to in Oslo had been lauded as a bright success in a relatively bleak disarmament year. Yet, there were many countries not in a position to join the global ban. Even though United States President William Clinton had called for a ban on such weapons, in the end the United States was unable to sign the treaty, as it felt the ban would put its troops in South Korea at risk. That position was quite understandable.

His country's position on such weapons had been active and open, he said. It had supported all efforts against their indiscriminate use. However, his country believed that security concerns and the right to self-defence of any country could not be disregarded. Thus, he could not support a blanket ban on such weapons. At the same time, he was not attempting to belittle the laudable efforts of those who had worked towards the elimination of the indiscriminate use of such weapons. All efforts would take time. The creation of an international environment devoid of mutual suspicions could not be attained overnight. No time limit could be placed on disarmament.

His country's experience gave cause for cautious optimism, he said. He noted the establishment of the nuclear-weapon-free zone in his region, which had been created by the Bangkok Treaty. Its negotiation had been an arduous process, but had resulted in greater understanding in the region.

FERNANDO BERROCAL-SOTO (Costa Rica) said that while the achievement of complete disarmament was urgent, no kind of disarmament was as important as nuclear disarmament. The NPT was the keystone of nuclear disarmament and the Treaty's indefinite extension should be decided in the next Review Conference. Another important tool towards nuclear disarmament was the IAEA, which had demonstrated its competence in the areas of verification and international control. It was necessary to give that Agency more ways and means to carry out its valuable work.

He said that the entry into force of the CTBT would provide an essential component in achieving nuclear disarmament and he welcomed the ongoing preparatory work in that regard. He endorsed article VI of the NPT and the start of negotiations for a cut-off treaty on the use of fissile material for nuclear weapons. The creation of nuclear-weapon-free zones guaranteed a promising future for mankind and such zones should therefore be promoted in other areas, such as in the southern hemisphere. However, those zones should be based on total transparency and on accession to international instruments. The advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice placed a legal obligation on States to prohibit the use of those weapons. He would, therefore, support the draft resolution in that regard.

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The illegal trafficking in conventional weapons heightened the tragedy of regional conflicts, he said. The profits derived from the sale and transfer of those weapons fanned rivalries. As the need for more weapons grew, so did the trafficker's profits. Drug trafficking, organized crime and mercenary activities exacerbated those wars and increased the suffering, particularly in developing countries. A code of conduct on the international transfer of those weapons was needed. Meanwhile, the Register of Conventional Arms had his support.

He said that he welcomed the adoption in Oslo of the convention to ban landmines and would support all such efforts. Further, the impact of biological weapons was potentially enormous as those weapons were inexpensive to produce and rapid progress was being made in biological engineering. In addition, many arms of mass destruction could be placed in arsenals and many biological agents, used as weapons, could render useless all efforts to eradicate highly contagious and dangerous illnesses. In that regard, the efforts made by the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) were welcome.

EMIL VALEV (Bulgaria) said his country attached primary importance to regional security, stability and cooperation in South-East Europe. Agreements had been reached at the Sofia meeting of foreign ministers of the region on cooperation in such areas as promotion of good-neighbourly relations, economic cooperation and law enforcement.

To achieve greater stability in the area, regional cooperation should be complemented by integrating eligible countries into the transatlantic community, he said. The accession of his country to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was of immediate national interest. In order to intensify interaction between his country and NATO, his country had advanced ideas for enhanced cooperation within the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council on security issues in South-East Europe and the Black Sea area.

He welcomed the positive results that had been achieved in the field of disarmament and arms control, in particular the Chemical Weapons Convention, which marked a new area in the world of disarmament. His country was an active member of the Executive Council of the OPCW. The CTBT represented another major achievement and an important step towards nuclear disarmament. It was an effective tool against the vertical and horizontal proliferation of such weapons. He supported the work of the CTBTO and he reiterated his country's readiness to allow use of its seismic station for CTBT verification. He also called for negotiations towards a cut-off treaty on the production of fissile material.

His country had paid particular attention to the question of anti- personnel landmines, especially their indiscriminate use, he said. His country's approach, however, contained some constraints, which reflected a realistic doctrine on national security and defence. Thus, it had taken a cautious attitude towards acceptance of measures that would impose excessive

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restrictions on national defence. While the Ottawa process provided a basis for achieving a widely acceptable international agreement, the Conference on Disarmament offered the most practical and effective forum for negotiating a global comprehensive ban on such weapons.

He supported the Register of Conventional Arms and called for its strengthening, as a step towards setting up a mechanism for ensuring transparency in the field of conventional armaments. He favoured the inclusion in the Register of data on military holdings and procurement through national production, he said.

AHMED MUJUTHABA (Maldives) said that the cold war remained cold, because of nuclear weapons. Cold war adversaries said that the cold war was dead. However, nuclear testing continued, old arsenals were being upgraded and new ones were being invented.

Those who had nuclear weapons knew that their use would not be confined to military casualties, he continued. They knew that the fallout would affect generations of human beings. Only a few States possessed the multi-billion dollar nuclear weapons. On the one hand, those man-made nuclear weapons could destroy the earth several times over. On the other hand, hundreds of millions of people lived in poverty, where their lives and livelihoods were at the mercy of nature. It was to that dreadful situation that the United Nations had to find a solution.

The build-up of conventional weapons was cause for alarm, he said. The greater the build-up, the greater the risk of escalating local conflicts. The United Nations should take steps to reduce that build-up. His country had always supported international efforts to ban anti-personnel landmines. In that regard, he applauded the Ottawa process and looked forward to joining that treaty when it was opened for signature in December. He hoped that countries that had difficulties with the treaty would modify their stand and join the international community in the treaty signing.

What could one of the smallest nations on earth do to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, he asked? Countries like the Maldives could not spend money on military matters. Although international peace and security was a global concern, small States were limited in their ability to meet their security requirements. Thus, for those States, the United Nations remained the only guarantor of security.

WOLFGANG HOFFMANN, of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Preparatory Commission, noted the progress that had been made since the Treaty was opened for signature at the United Nations in September 1996. The Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO, based in Vienna, was established the following November. Financed by the States signatories, which now numbered 148, the Commission consisted of two major organs: a plenary body composed of all States signatories; and the Provisional Technical

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Secretariat, which began its work in March. The Commission had also set up working groups to deal with administrative and budgetary matters, and with verification issues.

An important mandate of the Technical Secretariat was to install a global verification regime, he said. The International Monitoring System, a worldwide network of 321 seismic, infrasound, hydroacoustic and radionuclide stations would be built up progressively and run by the host countries, in cooperation with the Technical Secretariat. The Commission's work programme for the year called for the survey of 55 sites for stations and the establishment or upgrading of 18 seismological stations and one hydroacoustic station.

The Technical Secretariat would ensure that its work would be conducted within the budget estimated by the administrative working group, he said. The Commission had approved a modern programme budget structure, and the 1998 draft budget had seven major programmes, of which five were verification related.

The verification working group had proposed the following priorities for their work over the next several years: commissioning the International Monitoring System; establishing the International Data Centre in Vienna; communications infrastructure; on-site inspection; and the development and evaluation of verification programmes. The Technical Secretariat had also been seeking to define areas for cooperation with Vienna-based organizations on joint and common services, such as with the IAEA in areas of personnel and finance and with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in the area of procurement.

Verification was the core of the Commission's work, he said. Significant progress had been made on the International Data Centre and on the development of the communications infrastructure. The Technical Secretariat had organized an on-site inspection workshop, which discussed the methodology for conducting inspections, phenomena associated with nuclear explosions and radiation measurement. Fifty-four experts from 18 States signatories had participated in the workshop and follow-up workshops would be held in January.

The Commission had also been conducting an active public information policy to explain the provisions and significance of the Treaty, which, he said, constituted an important achievement to help worldwide non-proliferation efforts. It would help to halt the development of new nuclear weapons by imposing a global ban on nuclear explosions, thus constituting a step towards nuclear disarmament.

With 148 signatories, the CTBT was rapidly approaching the status of a universal treaty, he said. Additional countries had expressed their interest in the Treaty and he invited all countries that had not yet done so to sign it. It was one of the most economical and one of the cheapest ways to make

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the world a safer place. He noted that even countries that had not yet signed the Treaty had offered to place technical installations on their territories. Seven States had so far ratified the CTBT, and the ratification process seemed to be well under way in numerous countries.

MEHDI DANESH-YAZDI (Iran) said that while several in the international community had demonstrated their firm determination to end the nightmare of nuclear war, the nuclear-weapon States had insisted on maintaining and developing nuclear weapons -- thus paralyzing the confidence-building activities of the Conference on Disarmament and other bodies on that subject. Some States had unjustifiably suggested that nuclear disarmament was unfeasible in the foreseeable future.

He said that the reluctance by some nuclear-weapon States to conduct such negotiations in the Conference had resulted in that body's stalemate. With the insistence of the nuclear Powers to limit the scope of the CTBT, that Treaty had lost its comprehensive character and its ability to prevent further developments of nuclear weapons. The nuclear Powers, thus, were able to utilize advanced technology and further develop their nuclear stockpiles. Furthermore, they were able to produce new and more complex types of nuclear weapons through non-explosive tests. The controversy over vertical proliferation was accentuated by the sub-critical test that had been conducted by one signatory State, an action that contradicted the spirit and objectives of the Treaty.

He said that despite the shortcomings of the CTBT, which had "cast a shadow over its true comprehensiveness", it was a step forward that should be followed by additional nuclear disarmament steps. The indefinite extension of the NPT and the commitments undertaken by all Parties in the Review Conference were significant steps towards ridding the world of nuclear weapons. The next Review Conference should evaluate the full realization and effective implementation of the Treaty and identify areas in which further progress should be sought.

The application of double standards in the area of non-proliferation, and the use of non-transparency and executive export control mechanisms in the areas of nuclear, chemical and biological technology for peaceful purposes was most destructive, he said. All verification and control of the transfer of such materials among States parties should be in accordance with the provisions of relevant treaties, which contained specific mechanisms for ensuring compliance. Any question concerning violations of specific treaty provisions should be addressed through the relevant treaty mechanisms. The IAEA, for example, was responsible for verifying compliance with the NPT.

His Government had suggested the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, he said. However, Israel's refusal to accede to the NPT and to accept IAEA safeguards remained the obstacle towards achieving that common objective. The nuclear Powers, out of respect for international

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agreements establishing those zones should sign the relevant protocols and support initiatives to establish them, particularly in the Middle East. According to commitments entered into through the NPT, the international community must exert pressure on Israel to join the NPT and accept IAEA safeguards.

He said that the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention was undoubtedly the greatest disarmament achievement since the cold war. As the latest victim of those inhumane weapons, his country wholeheartedly contributed to those negotiations and was among the first signatories to that important treaty. Its effectiveness and universality would depend, to a large extent, on its implementation and on the level of compliance it received. The Convention, therefore, would require the same degree of perseverance as did the negotiations.

He said that the unabated race for conventional weapons not only wasted huge quantities of limited resources, but also exacerbated an atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust. As a first step, transparency in the transfer of armaments could build confidence, arrest the arms race in various regions and enhance regional and global peace and stability. That was particularly true if such transparency curbed the actual sale and transfer of sophisticated, yet unnecessary, weapon systems to volatile regions like the Middle East.

According to published reports, the Middle East and North Africa imported nearly 40 per cent of the arms sold in the world, he continued. While Iran had submitted to the Register of Conventional Arms, the Middle East region, unfortunately, accounted for the lowest rate of participation in that instrument. Some regional countries -- motivated by security concerns arising from Israel's nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction -- had been reluctant to sign or ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention and did not even find it possible to participate in the Register. Yet, one -- or a few -- States rendered unabated political and practical support for Israel's acquisition of weapons of mass destruction. That underlined the bitter reality that policies and practices of "extra-regional Powers" had not led to regional security and stability, but to further mistrust, tension and an arms race.

He said that Iran was one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. During eight years of war, nearly 16 million mines and unexploded sub-munitions were planted over more than 4 million hectares. The non- availability of maps and the lack of access to advanced equipment and technology had hindered mine clearance efforts, thereby causing continuous casualties among civilians and those involved in mine clearance operations. While it was expected that the Ottawa process would result in a comprehensive and balanced document to address both the security and humanitarian aspects of the problem, regrettably the final Oslo text did not meet those concerns in a clear and concrete manner. The Conference on Disarmament should establish an ad hoc committee with the mandate of negotiating a ban on those weapons.

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He said he was concerned that the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament had not yet been convened and by the failure of the 1997 session of the Disarmament Commission to agree on the agenda and date for its convening. All parties were urged to reach an agreement with a view to convening that important session at the earliest possible date.

ALI HACHANI (Tunisia) said that the past year had shown progress in the nuclear area. The conclusion last year of the CTBT was important to the process of nuclear disarmament and a step towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons. He welcomed the establishment of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO. He also noted with satisfaction the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention. His country attached great importance to that treaty and had ratified it before its official entry into force. However, it needed universal adherence, especially by the chemical-weapon States.

The world was a long way from the full and final elimination of nuclear weapons, although the end of the cold war had brought that goal closer, he said. He welcomed progress that had been made towards furthering the NPT, and emphasized the importance of multilateral efforts, especially within the Conference on Disarmament. Those worked in parallel with unilateral and bilateral arrangements, for example START, between the United States and the Russian Federation.

Regional nuclear disarmament was a critical factor in non-proliferation efforts, forming a basis of regional security, he said. His country had continually approved efforts to create a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa, and he applauded the Pelindaba Treaty, which had achieved that goal. He also supported other nuclear-weapon-free zones around the world. Unfortunately, Israel was continuing to pose obstacles to the establishment of a nuclear- weapon-free zone in the Middle East. Also, it was not heeding calls for it to adhere to the NPT and to place its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. Israel created a flagrant arms imbalance in the area, he said.

On the issue of anti-personnel landmines, his country had followed the Ottawa process as an observer. While it would work towards ending the suffering caused by such weapons, he believed that the right of countries to use such weapons to defend their borders should be taken into consideration. Tunisia was a peace-loving country, which wished to become member of the Conference on Disarmament. He emphasized the importance of the expansion of the Conference and said that countries desiring to become full-fledged members should be allowed to do so.

Cooperation in the region of the Mediterranean should be strengthened, he said. His country had worked towards that goal tirelessly. Openness and tolerance in the region was needed. There should be a partnership between the two shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in particular towards social and economic development and in the struggle against terrorism. His country had participated in the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue and would continue to do so.

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