TEXT URGING RATIFICATION OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE CONVENTION INTRODUCED IN FIRST COMMITTEE

Press Release
GA/DIS/3093

TEXT URGING RATIFICATION OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE CONVENTION INTRODUCED IN FIRST COMMITTEE

The General Assembly would urge all States to ratify without delay the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, under the terms of a 117-Power draft resolution introduced by the representative of Canada this afternoon in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

By the text, one of 21 draft resolutions and two draft decisions introduced today, the Assembly would also call upon all States to contribute towards the full realization of the Convention by advancing the care and rehabilitation of mine victims and removing anti-personnel mines throughout the world. The Convention will be opened for signature in Ottawa from 3 to 4 December and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until its entry into force.

By the terms of a text on a convention to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons, the Assembly would reiterate its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on an international convention to prohibit the use or threatened use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. Another text concerning nuclear weapons would have the Assembly call for the determined pursuit by the nuclear-weapon States of systematic and progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally, with the ultimate goal of eliminating them.

Still another nuclear disarmament text would have the Assembly underline once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there existed an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament under strict and effective international control.

In two texts introduced today concerning nuclear-weapon-free zones, the Assembly would urge the States of South Asia to continue to make all possible efforts to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia and to refrain, in the meantime, from any action contrary to that objective and call upon African States to sign and ratify the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) as soon as possible, so it can enter into force without delay.

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The Assembly would call on Member States to give serious consideration to the implications that non-compliance has for international security and stability, by the terms of another text introduced today, and reaffirm the critical importance of, and the vital contribution that has been made by effective verification measures in arms limitation and disarmament agreements, by another.

In the field of conventional arms, one text would have the Assembly stress the particular relevance of the deliberations at the 1997 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission concerning conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament guidelines.

By the terms of a text on small arms, the Assembly would call upon all Member States to implement the recommendations unanimously approved by the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms. According to a related text on the illicit circulation of small arms, the Assembly would encourage the setting up of national commissions against the proliferation of small arms in the countries of the Saharo-Sahelian subregion .

The Assembly would call upon Member States to provide to the Secretary- General, by 31 May annually, the requested data and information for the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, by a text on arms transparency. It would invite the States members of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa that have not yet signed the Non-Aggression Pact to do so, by a disarmament text concerning regional security.

Still other texts would have the Assembly: urge the international community to devote part of the resources made available by implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development; call upon States to adopt measures to ensure the application of scientific and technological progress in the framework of international security and disarmament, without detriment to the environment; and again state its conviction that the participation of all the permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee would greatly facilitate dialogue to advance regional peace, security and stability.

By another text, the Assembly would urge States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to inform the Conference on Disarmament of the progress of related bilateral or multilateral negotiations. A text on the Conference on Disarmament would have the Assembly reaffirm the role of that body as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community.

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By other texts, the Assembly would: decide subject to the emergence of a general agreement on its objectives and agenda, to convene the special session on disarmament; call upon States to conclude agreements for nuclear non- proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels; and call upon all States to take measures aimed at preventing any dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States.

According to two draft decisions introduced today, the Assembly would: decide to include an item on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in the provisional agenda of its fifty-third session; and decide to include the item entitled "Review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security" in the provisional agenda of its fifty-fourth session.

Statements on the texts were made by the representatives of Japan, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Uruguay, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Paraguay, Malaysia, Philippines, Mali, Sri Lanka, Slovakia, Kenya, Pakistan, United States, Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, United Kingdom and Australia.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Friday, 7 November, to continue the introduction of draft resolutions on disarmament and international security matters.

Committee Work Programme

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this afternoon to hear the introduction of draft resolutions.

By the terms of a 106-Power text, the Assembly would invite all States to sign and urge them to subsequently ratify without delay the Convention prohibiting the use of anti-personnel mines (document A/C.1/52/L.1). The Assembly would also call upon States to contribute towards the effective implementation of the Convention in the areas of victim rehabilitation, mine clearance and destruction. The Convention will be opened for signature in Ottawa from 3 to 4 December 1997, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until its entry into force.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom.

[The treaty cited above is: Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.]

Under the terms of a draft resolution on regional confidence-building measures (document A/C.1/52/L.6), the Assembly would invite the States members of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa that have not yet signed the Non-Aggression Pact to do so, and encourage all Member States to expedite ratification in order to contribute to the prevention of conflicts in the Central African subregion.

The Assembly would welcome the Committee's programmes, which are designed to, among others: set up an early-warning system for Central Africa; retrain demobilized soldiers and prepare them for reintegration into civilian life; and combat the illegal circulation of weapons and drugs in the subregion. It would express its conviction that the full implementation of

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such measures would promote confidence and the establishment of democracy and good governance in the region.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Gabon, on behalf of the States members of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa.

By the terms of a draft on assistance to States for curbing the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms (document A/C.1/52/L.8), the Assembly would encourage the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to curb the illicit circulation of small arms and to collect them in affected States of the Saharo-Sahelian subregion that so requested. The Assembly would encourage the setting up in those countries 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 resolution is sponsored by Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Togo.

Under a draft resolution on a convention to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/52/L.15), the Assembly would reiterate its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence 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 the text, a draft convention annexed to the draft resolution. The Assembly would request the Conference to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Sudan and Viet Nam.

By the terms of a draft on small arms (document A/C.1/52/L.27), the Assembly would call upon all Member States to implement -- in cooperation with appropriate international and regional organizations and police, intelligence, customs and border control services -- the recommendations unanimously approved by the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms. Member States would be encouraged to implement the recommendations on post- conflict situations, including demobilizing former combatants and destroying weapons.

The Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to implement the relevant recommendations and to initiate a study on the problems of ammunition and explosives. It further asks him to prepare a report, with the assistance of a

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group of governmental experts to be nominated by him in 1998, on the progress made in the implementation of those recommendations.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Guinea, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom and the United States.

Under a draft resolution on nuclear disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/52/L.28), sponsored by Japan, the Assembly would urge States not parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to accede to it at the earliest possible date. It would call for the determined pursuit by the nuclear-weapon States of systematic and progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally, with the ultimate goal of eliminating them, and by all States of general and complete disarmament.

The Assembly would call upon all States parties to the NPT to work for the success of the next Review Conference to be held in the year 2000. It would also call upon all States to fully implement their commitments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Further terms of the text would have the Assembly welcome the ongoing efforts to dismantle nuclear weapons and note the importance of the safe and effective management of the resultant fissile materials.

By the terms of a 45-Power draft on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice concerning the legality of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/52/L.37), the Assembly would underline once again the unanimous conclusion of the Court that there existed an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament under strict and effective international control.

The Assembly would once again call upon all States to fulfil that obligation immediately by commencing multilateral negotiations in 1998 leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear-weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malawi, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe.

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Introduction of Draft Texts

AKIRA HAYASHI (Japan) introduced two draft resolutions, the first on small arms (document A/C.1/52/L.27), the second on nuclear disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/52/L.28).

Turning to the draft on small arms, he drew attention to the statement made by the Secretary-General in his annual report: that small arms had been the primary or sole tool of every recent conflict dealt with by the United Nations and had taken their toll on human life. Together with the co-sponsors of the draft, he believed that the recommendations of the report of the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms should be implemented to the extent possible. The international community must not be complacent, considering the importance and widespread interest on the subject.

It was in that context that the current draft requested the Secretary- General to take some specific measures, including the submission of a report to the General Assembly in 1999, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be nominated by him in 1998. His Government intended to sponsor a small-arms workshop during the next year.

In introducing the draft resolution on nuclear disarmament, he said that persistent efforts must be made towards the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons. That goal should be achieved through the implementation of various concrete and realistic measures. Previous resolutions submitted under the same title had enjoyed the support of an overwhelming majority of Member States. The current draft was a follow-up to those texts adopted in previous years.

M. J. MOHER (Canada) introduced the draft resolution on the Convention prohibiting the use of anti-personnel mines (document A/C.1/52/L.1). The draft was a dramatic demonstration of strong support for the signing of the Convention this December. The Convention was "a remarkable expression of political will and commitment by a significant majority of States drawn from all regions of the world".

He believed that it would both crystallize and mobilize the international community to take steps to end the suffering, death and social hardships caused by anti-personnel landmines. That objective had led to Canada and other countries to develop a comprehensive programme for Ottawa in December, where other practical measures would be added. All countries, whether signatories or not, were invited to participate. If some delegations were not in a position to "vote yes" on the draft, their positions would be respected. He hoped, though, that they would at least be able to abstain.

He next introduced the draft resolution on verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in that regard (document A/C.1/52/L.30).

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According to the draft, the Assembly would reaffirm the critical importance of, and the vital contribution that has been made by effective verification measures in arms limitation and disarmament agreements, and it would ask the Secretary-General to report to the Assembly's fifty-fourth session on further view of Member States.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Singapore, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay.

He said the draft reaffirmed the 16 principles of verification drawn up by the Disarmament Commission. The expression of broad support for the draft in the Committee was appreciated, and further endorsement was welcome.

ANTONIO DE ICAZA (Mexico), referring to the draft introduced by Canada, said that a complete ban on anti-personnel landmines was necessary. For more than 20 years the international community had agreed on many landmine issues, but they had failed to agree on an outright ban. The co-sponsors of the resolution had concluded that only a complete ban would suffice.

The norms of international humanitarian law should respond to the military needs of each age and region, he said. Under the amended Protocol II to 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 (Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons), new provisions restricted the use of mines and booby traps. That was an interim measure in the process towards a universal ban on such weapons. In preparing for the holding of the second review conference on that Convention, it should be determined if the few but important countries not yet parties to the Ottawa Convention would be able to accept further restrictions on landmines.

He said he planned to support the draft on transparency in armaments (document A/C.1/52/L.2). Concerning the draft on the illicit trafficking of firearms and other explosive materials, he said the summit of the Rio Group had reaffirmed self-restraint on the manufacture and transfer of small weapons. Referring to drafts on peace through practical disarmament (document A/C.1/52/L.18) and small arms (A/C.1/52/L.27), he welcomed the report of the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms. The report recognized the work done by the Organization of American States (OAS) towards reducing the illicit trafficking of weapons. He welcomed the initiative of Mali and the United Nations for help in the collection of weapons.

On the draft on practical disarmament issues, he said there was now a balance of opinion on the subject. His country would continue to take an active part in arms control and limitation in relation to conventional

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weapons. The basis of agreement should begin with responsibility shared between weapon producing States and those where the weapons were being used.

PETER GOOSEN (South Africa) said that he strongly supported the draft on the landmines Convention. The Convention, which was the focus of the draft, represented a clear and total ban and established a compelling new international norm against that scourge. He looked forward to the early entry into force of the Convention and appealed to all States to heed the call.

He also drew attention to the action taken by his Government last May. In the first public destruction of anti-personnel landmines, South Africa destroyed its remaining stockpile of 261,423 mines. Several thousand mines would be retained, in order to further develop his country's demining capability. By immediately prohibiting the use, production and stockpiling of those weapons, South Africa had heeded the call of the Convention even before it was open for signature.

JULIO BENITEZ-SAENZ (Uruguay), speaking also on behalf of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile, said that he supported the draft on the anti-personnel mine Convention. Those weapons were aptly defined as "slow motion weapons of mass destruction" and they continued to cause irreversible harm, even after conflicts had ended. Mine fields covered almost all regions of the world, challenging the recovery process in those societies. They even posed a danger to peacekeeping operations. The most regrettable effects occurred against children and women that died or suffered mutilations as a consequence of those hidden arms, which were incapable of "obeying a cease-fire".

The Convention agreed to in Oslo responded to the consensus of the international community that a total prohibition of those devices be achieved. Demining cooperation and victim assistance were included in the negotiation process. He would support the Convention's signing in Ottawa.

PARFAIT-SERGE ONANGA-ANYANGA (Gabon) introduced the draft on regional confidence-building measures (document A/C.1/52/L.6). He said the situation in Central Africa was "highly disquieting" and it was, therefore, of great importance that the members of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa received the support of the international community. He drew attention to operative paragraphs five and seven of the text, which welcomed the activities of the Standing Advisory Committee in the last year and welcomed the participation of the permanent members of the Security Council in the ninth ministerial meeting of the Advisory Committee.

R.K. HEDGE (India) introduced the draft resolution on the convention on the prohibition of use of nuclear weapons (A/C.1/52/L.15). He said that India and several other countries -- non-nuclear, developing countries of the Non- Aligned Movement and other developing countries -- had, for some years, been

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proposing the need for such a convention. Those countries had always been encouraged by the fact that a majority of countries in the General Assembly supported the proposal, but deeply regretted that no action had been taken to implement the resolution. That had been mainly due to the negative approach of most of the nuclear-weapon States and States under their protection.

The proposal had assumed particular relevance in view of the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons, he said. There were two aspects of that opinion he would like to highlight. Firstly, the International Court of Justice opinion had made international humanitarian law applicable to the use of nuclear weapons, but international humanitarian law was in fact already applicable in all circumstances. Secondly, it was evident from the statement of the Court that a legally-binding instrument was both pertinent and necessary to underwrite the existing provision of international humanitarian law. That would remove any ambiguities that might be used to justify the use of nuclear weapons.

He added that the resolution was intended to ensure that the prohibition against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons was codified in an international agreement -- perhaps the first genuine nuclear disarmament agreement.

HASMY AGAM (Malaysia) introduced the draft resolution on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons (A/C.1/52/L.37). He said an overwhelming majority of the Members of the Organization were seriously concerned at the extremely slow pace in negotiations on nuclear disarmament. Important as bilateral negotiations were, they only addressed the issue of reduction of the numbers of those weapons to a certain ceiling, and did not address the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. For that reason the resolution emphasized the need for multilateral negotiations. It was important for the international community, in particular the nuclear-weapon States, to adopt a more pragmatic approach towards achieving that goal.

SUDJADNAN PARNOHADININGRAT (Indonesia) introduced four disarmament drafts and one draft decision, sponsored by Colombia on behalf of the Non- Aligned Movement countries. In introducing the first draft on the relationship between disarmament and development (document A/C.1/52/L.9), he said that issue was of exceptional importance to the Non-Aligned Movement, as it called for the sharing of resources released through the implementation of disarmament measures.

By terms of the text, the Assembly would urge the international community to devote part of the resources made available by implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, to economic and social development with a view to reducing the widening gap between developed and developing countries.

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The Assembly would invite all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General, by 15 April 1998, their views and proposals for the implementation of the action programme adopted at the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development. It would ask the Secretary-General to continue taking action, through appropriate organs within available resources, for the implementation of that action programme.

He next introduced a draft on the observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of disarmament and arms control agreements (document A/C.1/52/L.10). According to the text, the Assembly would call upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures to ensure the application of scientific and technological progress in the framework of international security and disarmament, without detriment to the environment. It would reaffirm that international disarmament forums take fully into account environmental norms in disarmament agreements and that all States contribute to ensuring compliance with such norms.

In introducing that text, he added that the linkage between disarmament and the environment were undeniable and mutually reinforcing. The number of incidents and accidents involving radioactive materials were increasing. The dismantling of certain weapons called for environmentally sound techniques and methods. While the draft refrained from making reference to specific disarmament agreements, it called for environmental norms to be taken into account.

The third draft was on the convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly on disarmament (document A/C.1/52/L.11). By that text, the Assembly would decide, subject to the emergence of a general agreement on its objectives and agenda, to convene that session. It would note the Secretary-General's view that preparations for the session could begin in 1998 and it would endorse the recommendation of the Disarmament Commission at its 1997 session to include that item in the agenda of the Commission's 1998 session.

In introducing the text, he said that there was an imperative to undertake a reassessment and reappraisal of the whole range of disarmament issues in order to determine the approach and future course of action. That could be achieved under the multilateral auspices of the United Nations, which could promote the resolution of the myriad of disarmament issues.

He next introduced the draft concerning the implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace (document A/C.1/52/L.12), by which the Assembly would again state its conviction that the participation of all the permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean would greatly facilitate dialogue to advance regional peace, security

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and stability. The Assembly would ask the Committee Chairman to continue his dialogue with those parties, and to report to the Assembly on his consultations at an early date.

He also introduced a draft decision on the review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security (A/C.1/52/L.13). By its terms, the Assembly would again decide to include the item in the provisional agenda of its fifty-fourth session.

RAMON DIAZ-PEREIRA (Paraguay), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Honduras and Guyana), said that it had been 19 years since the first special session devoted to disarmament. Held in 1978, it had reached agreement on the main outlines of a disarmament strategy. It must be recognized that the time had come for carrying out a very careful review of the disarmament process. He would highlight the importance of multilateralism in that process.

CARLOS SORRETA (Philippines) supported the resolution on anti-personnel landmines, which had brought the work of many organizations and countries together. His country had long supported the idea of working towards a total ban on such weapons, as had been carried out in the Ottawa process. Although he recognized the right of countries to self-defence, there were qualifications. States did not have the right to use all types of weapons. For example, they could not use chemical or biological weapons.

Commenting on the draft resolution introduced by Malaysia on the decision of the International Court of Justice, he said there had been much debate on the inclusion of the word 'legality' in the draft, but the Court only made decisions on legal issues.

MOCTAR OUANE (Mali) introduced the draft on assistance to States for curbing the illicit transfer and use of small arms and collecting them (A/C.1/52/L.8). The question of the illicit transfer of small arms was now a well known issue, he said. Small arms had contributed to conflicts in many countries and national situations had important regional repercussions. Thus, Mali had sought the help of the international community in finding ways to stem the proliferation of small weapons. The initiative had received support from many other countries.

The attention that had been given by the international community to the problems caused by small arms, had given rise to the concept of micro- disarmament, he said. Help in collecting small arms was a major reason for introducing the resolution. It must also be remembered that disarmament and development went hand in hand. Concerted efforts for conflict prevention were possible within the United Nations.

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B.A.B. GOONETILLEKE (Sri Lanka) introduced the draft on the Conference on Disarmament (A/C.1/52/L.20). By the terms of the draft sponsored by Costa Rica, Kenya and Sri Lanka, the Assembly would reaffirm the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community. It would welcome the determination of the Conference to fulfil that role in the light of the evolving international situation, with a view to making early substantive progress on its priority agenda items.

The Assembly would also welcome the desire of the Conference to promote substantive progress during its 1998 session, and would express the hope that appropriate consultations during the intersessional period could lead to commencement of early work on various agenda items. It would encourage the Conference to further review its membership, and to intensify the review of its agenda and methods of work.

He said that, as President of the Conference, he had introduced the Conference's report to the Committee. Having noted the comments made by a number of delegations concerning the performance of the Conference at its 1997 session, he would reiterate that following adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), it had to pause and take stock of the situation before taking on other disarmament issues.

He then introduced a text on preventing an outer space arms race (document A/C.1/52/L.19). By its terms, the Assembly would urge States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to inform the Conference on Disarmament of the progress of related bilateral or multilateral negotiations. The Assembly would also call upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the peaceful use of outer space and to the prevention of an outer space arms race.

The Assembly would emphasize the necessity of further measures with effective verification provisions to prevent an arms race in outer space. It would repeat that the Conference on Disarmament had the primary role in negotiating multilateral agreements to prevent such an arms race, and it would invite the Conference to re-establish the relevant ad hoc committee with a negotiating mandate at the beginning of its 1998 session.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Chile, China, Costa Rica, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Sudan.

MARIA KRASNOHORSKA (Slovakia) said that it had not been an easy year for the Conference on Disarmament, following its striking achievement in 1996 with the finalization of the CTBT. She expected her country to soon ratify the Treaty.

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She said it was natural that, following the conclusion of such an important Treaty, there would be a pause. The challenge now was to analyse the past and look into the future. The member States of the Conference had stated and restated their priorities. Unfortunately, that had not led to the opening of substantive negotiations. For the sake of real progress, flexibility and practicality must prevail.

As the only global arms control and disarmament body, the Conference should tackle the most pressing issues, she said. It should continue to play its incremental role in the coming years. In order to meet its task in the field of nuclear weapons, it should start with the principles and objectives of nuclear non-proliferation and concentrate on negotiations for a cut-off treaty on the use of fissile material for weapons purposes. Concerning conventional weapons, she wanted a total ban on anti-personnel mines. While her country had participated in the multilateral efforts to strengthen Protocol II of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, that Protocol did not meet her Government's expectations. It would, therefore, support the signing of the landmines Convention agreed to in Oslo.

ESTHER MSHAI TOLLE (Kenya), introduced a draft text on the prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes (document A/C.1/52/L.25 Rev.2), by the terms of which the Assembly would call upon all States to take measures aimed at preventing any dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States. It would express grave concern regarding any use of nuclear wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and have grave implications for the national security of all States.

By further terms of the text, the Assembly would ask the Conference on Disarmament, in negotiations for a convention prohibiting radiological weapons, to take radioactive wastes into account within its scope. It would appeal to all States to sign and ratify, accept or approve the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, adopted by the participants at the Summit on Nuclear Safety and Security. It would also express the hope that effective implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste would enhance protection of all States from the dumping of radioactive wastes on their territories.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Costa Rica, France, Kenya (on behalf of the Group of African States) and the Russian Federation.

She then introduced the draft resolution on the African Nuclear-Weapon- Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) (document A/C.1/52/L.26), by which the Assembly would call upon African States to sign and ratify the Treaty as soon as possible, so it can enter into force without delay. It would also call upon the States contemplated in Protocol III to take all necessary measures to ensure the Treaty's speedy application to territories for which they were

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internationally responsible or which lie within the limits of the geographical zone established in the Treaty.

Further terms of the text would have the Assembly call upon the African States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that had not yet concluded comprehensive safeguards agreements with the IAEA to do so, thereby satisfying the requirements of the Pelindaba Treaty.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Kenya, on behalf of the Group of African States.

She said the resolution had been updated since last year. On the draft introduced on anti-personnel landmines, she said it was common knowledge that the African continent was the most heavily mined area in the world. Such weapons continued to cause havoc for years after the end of conflicts. She fully supported the Ottawa process.

Mr. GOOSEN (South Africa) said he supported the statement of Kenya on the Treaty of Pelindaba. It represented an achievement of which all could be proud. Today the Treaty had been unanimously approved by the South African National Assembly, and he expected that it would be approved next week by the Second Chamber of the Parliament. That would make South Africa the third country to ratify the Treaty. He encouraged all signatories to the Treaty to ratify it as quickly as possible. He also supported other existing nuclear- weapon-free zones and initiatives to establish such zones in Central Asia and the southern hemisphere as a whole.

MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) introduced the draft resolution on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia (document A./C.1/52/L.38), sponsored by Bangladesh and Pakistan. By the terms of the text, the Assembly would urge once again the States of South Asia to continue to make all possible efforts to establish such a zone and to refrain, in the meantime, from any action contrary to that objective. It would also welcome the support of all the five nuclear-weapon States to the proposal, and call upon them to extend the necessary cooperation in such efforts.

The Assembly would also ask the Secretary-General to ascertain the views of regional and other concerned States on the issue and to explore the best possibilities of furthering those efforts.

He said that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones were intended to strengthen nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Concerned States long ago recognized the importance of such endeavours in promoting regional security and stability. Those important agreements had led to the serious consideration of making the entire southern hemisphere a nuclear-weapon-free zone. Despite the passage of several years and the development of nuclear capability in South Asia, the proposal remained valid and continued to manifest the commitment to nuclear non-proliferation.

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He next introduced the draft on regional disarmament (A/C.1/52/L.39). According to its terms, the Assembly would call upon States to conclude agreements for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels. It would stress that sustained efforts were needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues.

The Assembly would support and encourage efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels, in order to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non- proliferation measures.

The draft is sponsored by Armenia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Liberia, Mali, New Zealand, Niger, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.

In introducing the text, he said the imperative need for disarmament measures at the regional and subregional levels was evident. Major security threats had proliferated in recent years through regional disputes and conflicts, which, in turn, led to the accumulation of armaments and raised the scale of suffering and violence. The international community had now fully accepted the concept that arms control and disarmament at the global level must be complemented by measures at the regional level, bearing in mind that those should be tailored to address the particular dynamics of specific regions.

ROBERT GREY (United States) introduced a draft resolution on compliance with arms limitation, non-proliferation and disarmament agreements (document A/C.1/52/L.33), under the terms of which the Assembly would urge all States parties to arms limitation, non-proliferation and disarmament agreements to implement and comply with all provisions of those agreements. It would call on Member States to give serious consideration to the implications that non- compliance has for international security and stability. It would also call on Member States to support efforts aimed at the resolution of compliance questions by means consistent with such agreements and international law, with a view to encouraging strict observance by all States parties of the provisions of such agreements.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, New

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Zealand, Niger, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.

He said the draft now included references to non-proliferation, as well as disarmament and arms control agreements. New language had also been introduced, saying that compliance contributed to peace and security, and that full compliance with and participation in verification regimes was essential to their success. The universal adherence to arms treaties could not be overemphasized.

F.A.M. MAJOOR (Netherlands) introduced a draft text on transparency in armaments (document A/C.1/52/L.43), under the terms of which the Assembly would call upon Member States to provide to the Secretary-General, by 31 May annually, the requested data and information for the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, including nil reports if appropriate.

The Assembly would also invite Member States, pending further development of the Register, to provide additional information on procurement from national production and military holdings. It would decide to keep its scope and participation under review and, to that end, ask the Secretary- General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in the year 2000, to report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, with a view to a decision at the fifty-fifth Assembly session.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.

He said that transparency was an important confidence-building measure. The United Nations Register of Conventional Arms was a useful and practical measure in this regard, and support for it was solid. Nations were convinced of the contribution it could make in bringing about peace and stability in the world.

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Mr. DIAZ PEREIRA (Paraguay), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, said that he supported the draft resolution introduced earlier concerning transparency in arms (A/C.1/52/L.43). He was determined to continue to strengthen confidence-building measures in order to foster transparency.

ANA MARIA RAMIREZ (Argentina) also wanted to highlight a few points concerning the draft on transparency. Her country supported efforts that increased conflict-prevention mechanisms, promoted the non-proliferation of weapons and promoted the principles of the United Nations Charter. Instability had combined with the excessive stockpiling of weapons, required that international arms transfers be effectively controlled. Transparency in armaments was essential in that regard and was of particular importance in ensuring preventive diplomacy. As such, the Register of Conventional Arms was undoubtedly one of the main achievements of multilateral disarmament in recent years.

GUNTHER SEIBERT (Germany) introduced a draft on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures (document A/C.1/52/L.18). By its terms, the Assembly would stress the particular relevance of the deliberations at the 1997 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission concerning conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament guidelines, and it would encourage the Commission to continue efforts aimed at their adoption.

The Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General's report and recognize that the readiness of the international community to assist affected States in their efforts to consolidate peace would greatly benefit the effective implementation of practical disarmament measures. Interested States would be invited to establish a group to facilitate the process and to build upon the momentum.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.

He said that the text crossed the usual regional group lines. It was first introduced last year in the General Assembly where it was adopted by consensus. It intended to focus the Committee's attention on promoting peace in post-conflict environments, highlighting such measures as arms control, particularly small arms and light weapons, confidence-building, demining and

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the reintegration of combatants. Such efforts were often a prerequisite to building peace, developing the post-conflict economies and maintaining security. The current draft remained unchanged, but some important new developments had taken place that were duly reflected in the text.

T. ALLOWAY (United Kingdom) said that he warmly welcomed the draft on transparency in armaments. His country had been a strong supporter of the Register since its inception, as a unique instrument of global transparency in arms exports, and was committed to strengthening it in any way possible. He was disappointed that no agreement was reached for the expansion of the Register, particularly regarding procurement through national production. He would have preferred an even stronger resolution that would have urged States to provide timely returns, including background information on procurement through national production and military holdings and, on the same basis, for exports and imports.

JOHN CAMPBELL (Australia) introduced the draft decision on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (document A/C.1/52/L.7). By its terms, the Assembly would decide to include the item in the provisional agenda of its fifty-third session. He sincerely hoped that the decision would be adopted by consensus.

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