ELEVEN DISARMAMENT TEXTS INTRODUCED IN FIRST COMMITTEE
Press Release
GA/DIS/3094
ELEVEN DISARMAMENT TEXTS INTRODUCED IN FIRST COMMITTEE
19971107 The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) continued its introduction of draft resolutions and decisions this afternoon, with the submission of 11 texts on, among others, nuclear disarmament and nuclear- weapon-free zones, as well as the Committee's third resolution concerning anti-personnel landmines.By a draft resolution on nuclear disarmament, the General Assembly would urge the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems, and would reiterate its call on those States to undertake a phased programme of progressive and balanced deep reductions of nuclear weapons, with a view to their total elimination within a time-bound framework.
Under the terms of a text on bilateral nuclear disarmament, the Assembly would urge the Russian Federation and the United States to commence negotiations on a third agreement immediately after the entry into force of the Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms.
By the terms of two texts submitted today on nuclear weapon-free zones, the Assembly would: urge all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the establishment of such a zone in the region of the Middle East; call for the ratification of the Treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba by all regional States, in the promotion of the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere.
[The treaties cited above are: Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco); the South Pacific Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga); the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone Treaty (Bangkok Treaty); and the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty).]
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The Assembly would urge all States to intensify their efforts aimed at eliminating anti-personnel landmines, and to declare and implement various bans, moratoriums and other restrictions on those weapons as soon as possible, by the terms of another draft, introduced today by the representative of Australia. It would invite the Conference on Disarmament to intensify its efforts on the issue.
By a text concerning regional conventional arms control, the Assembly would decide to give urgent consideration to issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels, and it would ask the Conference on Disarmament to consider formulating principles to serve as a framework for regional conventional arms control agreements.
Other draft texts introduced this afternoon would have the Assembly:
-- urge Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations aimed at establishing universally acceptable, non-discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of dual-use goods and technologies with military applications;
-- urge normalization of the relations among the Balkan States;
-- appeal to Member States to strengthen the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; and
-- express its concern at the continuing decrease in contributions to the United Nations Disarmament Programme.
A final text was introduced by the representative of Canada on the status of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and Their Destruction (Chemical Weapons Convention). The text will be circulated next week in the Committee.
Statements on the texts were made by the representatives of Myanmar, Nepal, India, Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia, Paraguay, Niger, Mexico, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Philippines, New Zealand, Pakistan, Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Finland, Israel, United Kingdom, France, United States, Japan, Germany, Canada, Iran and Egypt.
The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m., Monday, 10 November, to begin taking action on all disarmament and international draft resolutions and decisions.
Committee Work Programme
The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this afternoon to conclude the introduction of disarmament draft resolutions and decisions.
According to a draft resolution sponsored by Egypt on transparency in armaments (document A/C.1/52/L.2), the Assembly would reaffirm its conviction of the interrelationship between transparency in the fields of conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction and transfers of high technology with military applications. It would ask the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on ways to enhance such transparency, with a view to enhancing transparency in the field of conventional weapons, and to include in his report to the Assembly at its fifty-third session a special section on the resolution's implementation.
By the terms of a text on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (document A/C.1/52/L.3), the Assembly would reaffirm its support for the continued operation and strengthening of the Centre as an essential promoter of the regional peace and disarmament dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region known as the "Kathmandu process". The Secretary-General would be asked to support the Centre's continued operation.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Australia, Bangladesh, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.
A draft resolution sponsored by Egypt on the establishment of a nuclear- weapon-free-zone in the region of the Middle East (document A/C.1/52/L.4) would have the General Assembly urge all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the establishment of such a zone, and as a means of promoting that objective, it would invite concerned countries to adhere to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Assembly would call upon all countries of the region to place their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. It would invite those countries not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, or to allow the stationing of such weapons on their territories. Noting the importance of the ongoing bilateral Middle East peace negotiations in promoting the establishment of such a zone, the Assembly would invite all States to assist in the establishment of the zone and to refrain from action that would run counter to both the letter and the spirit of the resolution.
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By the terms of a draft resolution on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East (document A/C.1/52/L.5), sponsored by Egypt on behalf of the League of Arab States, the Assembly would call upon Israel, the only State in the region not yet party to the NPT to accede to the Treaty without further delay.
It would also call upon Israel not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons and to renounce possession of such weapons and to place all its non-safeguarded nuclear facilities under the IAEA. It would further ask the Secretary-General to bring the provisions of the resolution to the particular attention of Israel.
According to a draft resolution on the role of science and technology with respect to international security and disarmament (document A/C.1/52/L.14), the Assembly would urge Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations aimed at establishing universally acceptable, non- discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of dual-use goods and technologies with military applications. Member States would be invited to undertake additional efforts to apply science and technology for disarmament- related purposes and to make disarmament-related technologies available to interested States.
By the text, the Assembly would affirm that scientific and technological progress should be used to promote the sustainable economic and social development of all States and to safeguard international security.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Lesotho, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
A draft resolution on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme (document A/C.1/52/L.16) would have the Assembly express its concern at the continuing decrease in contributions to the Programme, and it would invite the Secretary-General to continue to support the timely publication and distribution of the United Nations Disarmament Yearbook.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan and Peru.
A 27-Power draft resolution on the consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty of Tlatelolco (document A/C.1/52/L.17) would have the Assembly urge ratification of the Treaty's amendments approved by the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Assembly would welcome the concrete steps by some countries of the region during the past year to consolidate the regime of military denuclearization established by the Treaty. It would also note with satisfaction the full adherence of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the Treaty.
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The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
[The full title of the treaty cited above is: Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin American and the Caribbean.]
According to a 26-Power draft on anti-personnel landmines (document A/C.1/52/L.23), the Assembly -- taking into account the efforts to address the landmine issue and underlining that those efforts should be mutually reinforcing -- would urge all States to intensify their efforts to contribute to the objective of the elimination of anti-personnel landmines.
The Assembly would welcome the various bans, moratoriums and other restrictions already declared by States on anti-personnel landmines, and it would call upon all other States to declare and implement such restrictions as soon as possible. It would also invite the Conference on Disarmament to intensify its efforts on the issue.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Spain, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.
According to a 54-Power draft resolution on the Biological Weapons Convention (document A/C.1/52/L.24), the Assembly would call upon all signatory States that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so without delay. It would also call upon States that have not signed the Convention to become parties at an early date, thus contributing to the Convention's universal adherence.
The Assembly would reiterate its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the exchange of information and data as agreed in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention. It would welcome the progress made by the Ad Hoc Group of Governmental Experts towards fulfilling the mandate established by the States Parties to the Convention, which included possible verification measures in a legally binding instrument. It would urge the Ad Hoc Group to intensify its work with a view to completing it as soon as possible.
[The full title of the treaty cited above is: the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction.]
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The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.
Under the terms of a draft on nuclear disarmament (document A/C.1/52/L.29), the Assembly would urge the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems. It would urge the Conference on Disarmament to take into account the proposal of twenty-eight delegations to the Conference for a programme of action for the elimination of nuclear weapons, as well as the mandate for the ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament, proposed by twenty-six delegations.
The Assembly would reiterate its call on the nuclear-weapon States to undertake a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and a phased programme of progressive and balanced deep reductions of nuclear weapons, and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to the total elimination of those weapons within a specific time-frame.
By further terms of the text, the Assembly would reiterate its call upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament to commence negotiations early in 1998 on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament and for the eventual elimination of those weapons within a specific time-frame through a nuclear weapons convention.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe.
By the terms of a draft resolution on bilateral nuclear arms negotiations and nuclear disarmament (document A/C.1/52/L.32), the Assembly would urge the Russian Federation and the United States to commence negotiations on a third agreement immediately after the Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms enters into force.
The Assembly would also encourage the United States, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Ukraine to continue their efforts aimed at
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eliminating nuclear weapons and strategic offensive arms on the basis of existing agreements. It would also encourage and support efforts by the Russian Federation and the United States to reduce their nuclear weapons and to continue to give those efforts the highest priority in order to contribute to the ultimate goal of eliminating them.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.
According to a 28-Power draft on the development of good-neighbourly relations among Balkan States (document A/C.1/52/L.34), the Assembly would urge normalization of the relations among those States. It would call upon them to promote good-neighbourly relations and to undertake unilateral and joint activities including confidence-building measures, in particular, within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The Assembly would also call upon all Balkan States and other interested States to participate actively in and support the negotiations on regional arms control foreseen in the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a view to reaching first results. It would also call upon the relevant international organizations and the United Nations system to continue to support and assist that ongoing process.
By further terms of the text, the Assembly would stress that closer engagement of Balkan States in cooperation agreements on the European continent would favourably influence the regional political and economic situation as well as good-neighbourly relations among the Balkans. The Assembly would also stress the urgency of the realization of the aim of the Balkans to become a region of peace, stability, security, cooperation and sustained economic development.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Under the terms of a 66-Power resolution on the nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas (document A/C.1/52/L.35), the Assembly would call for the ratification of the Treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba by all regional States, and call upon all concerned States to facilitate adherence to the protocols to such treaties by all relevant States that have not done so. It would also call upon the States parties and signatories to those treaties to implement further ways to
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cooperate in the promotion of the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere.
The Assembly would also stress the role of such zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, with particular reference to the responsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States in that regard.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
[The treaties cited above are: Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco); the South Pacific Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga); the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon Free Zone Treaty (Bangkok Treaty); and the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty).]
Under the terms of a draft text on conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels (document A/C.1/52/L.40), the Assembly would decide to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels, and it would ask the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that could serve as a framework for regional conventional arms control agreements.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Bangladesh, Benin, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and The United Kingdom.
According to the terms of a draft resolution on the role of the United Nations in disarmament (document A/C.1/52/L.42), the Assembly would reiterate that nuclear disarmament has the highest priority in efforts to universally advance disarmament. It would underline the necessity to promote disarmament and regulate armaments on the basis of negotiations reflecting the security interests of all States, and it would reiterate that the adoption and implementation of disarmament measures should take place in an equitable and balanced manner.
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The Assembly would reaffirm its support for the United Nations machinery on disarmament and it would reaffirm that the Conference on Disarmament was the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament. It would affirm its support for the objectives of nuclear and conventional disarmament, as set out at its first special session devoted to disarmament, and it would also affirm that the implementation of international disarmament treaties and questions of compliance should be carried out in accordance with the provisions of those treaties.
The draft resolution is sponsored by India, Iran, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar and Pakistan.
By the terms of a draft on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon free zone in Central Asia (document A/C.1/52/L.44), the Assembly would call upon all countries to support the initiative for such a zone. It would ask the Secretary-General to establish a group of United Nations experts to provide the requisite assistance to the Central Asian countries in the preparation of the form and elements of such an agreement.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Introduction of Draft Texts
U MYA THAN (Myanmar) introduced a text on nuclear disarmament (A/C.1/52/L.29) by which the General Assembly would urge the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads. He said the collective aspirations of the international community for nuclear disarmament dated back to the beginning of the nuclear age. The very first resolution adopted by the General Assembly called for the elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
He said that while recent significant progress had been made in bilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations between the two major Powers, it was regrettable that, owing to the inflexibility of some nuclear-weapon- States, there had been no movement whatsoever until now on nuclear disarmament in the multilateral context. The Assembly's calls for the commencement of such multilateral negotiations have gone unheeded by some nuclear-weapon States. Furthermore, the Conference on Disarmament had been paralyzed in the past year on that issue. Multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament and other related issues must be started in the Conference. That task was an imperative of the era and that imperative was the main thrust of the draft resolution.
NARENDRA BIKRAM SHAH (Nepal) introduced a draft resolution on the United Nations Centre for peace and disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (document A/C.1/52/L.3), which would call for efforts to strengthen the Kathmandu-based
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Center. He said the draft was similar to last year's General Assembly resolution, but also included the addition of a new operative paragraph, welcoming the fact that the Kathmandu process would mark its tenth anniversary in 1998.
SOM PAL (India) introduced a draft resolution on the role of science and technology with respect to international security and disarmament (A/C.1/52/L.14). He said the draft addressed an issue of great importance for the international community and for countries seeking to promote the social and economic well-being of their people.
It was widely acknowledged that the developmental needs of countries required an infusion of technology -- technology which could also have military applications, he said. The transfer of dual use and advanced technologies therefore needed to be monitored and regulated. That was why a new preambular paragraph specifically addressing that need was included in the text.
Dual use and high technologies should be made available on a regulated, non-discriminatory basis, he said. However, such regulation could not be achieved through the existing ad hoc export control regimes. They were no more than exclusive groupings of countries which limited the exchanges of such technologies among themselves, while denying their access to others. Such regimes tended to become commercial and economic barriers to normal trade, and, therefore, to the social and economic development of States, particularly developing countries.
In addition, such regimes had not been very effective in controlling the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, he went on. The regulation of such technology should be internationally applicable on the basis of multilaterally negotiated and universally accepted guidelines.
APRITA SUGONDHABHIROM (Thailand) said that he wished to register his support for the submission of 14 drafts that shared the common goal of the elimination of nuclear weapons. That number reflected the view of the international community that nuclear disarmament was one of the most important items on the disarmament agenda. Highlighting texts concerning nuclear disarmament within a specific time-frame (A/C.1/52/L.29), the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (A/C.1/52/L.37), and the Bangkok Treaty (A/C.1/52/L.35), he said he would vote in favour of those 14 drafts beginning next week.
JOSE EDUARDO FELICIO (Brazil) introduced the draft resolution on the nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere (A/C.1/52/L.35). He said the draft neither created new legal obligations nor contradicted any international norms, such as the Law of the Sea. Rather, it promoted the idea that a large part of the globe was, and wished to remain, nuclear-weapon free. Such an
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endeavour should give impetus to nuclear disarmament and to the strengthening of that non-proliferation regime.
SUDJADNAN PARNOHADININGRAT (Indonesia), speaking in support of the draft concerning the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, and for what had come to be known as the Kathmandu Process, said that nearly a decade after its establishment, the Centre's mandate remained valid. It was therefore essential to support and strengthen its continued functioning.
RAMON DIAZ PEREIRA (Paraguay), speaking as the coordinator of the Rio Group (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Honduras and Guyana), said that the draft on the southern hemisphere as a nuclear-weapon-free zone was an obvious demonstration of the rejection of the nuclear option and of the decision to free the world of those weapons. Along with the existing Treaties, a nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere would consolidate the regime of the prohibition of nuclear weapons. Such Treaties would not only strengthen the non-proliferation regime, it would encourage the establishment of similar zones elsewhere.
Mr. PAL (India) supported the resolutions that focused on nuclear disarmament. The continued existence of nuclear weapons posed a major threat to the world. He particularly supported the three drafts in the nuclear disarmament cluster. The resolution that dealt with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would call upon all States to negotiate the early conclusion of a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. That was a crucial task.
His country had joined in co-sponsoring the draft resolution, despite its well-known feelings on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). That did not change his country's position on the NPT. He still believed it was an unequal Treaty. However, the co-sponsorship showed his country's strong commitment to nuclear disarmament.
The second such draft he supported had been introduced by Myanmar, proposing the establishment of a mechanism for nuclear disarmament. It called on the Conference on Disarmament to establish an ad hoc committee to work towards a phased programme of complete nuclear disarmament within a time-bound framework. The third draft he supported proposed a convention on the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. That was an idea whose time had come.
An unequal nuclear regime existed, he said. Nuclear-weapon-free zones did not provide security against the use of nuclear weapons. He did not believe in such assurances, even if given in legal form, as long as nuclear weapons continued to exist. In the cluster on nuclear disarmament there were resolutions that included the NPT as a central platform. His Government remained opposed to the inequality of the Treaty, which served to perpetuate the unequal nuclear regime.
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MALLAM DAOUDA (Niger) spoke in support of several drafts. He said he would support any that were in favour of general and complete disarmament. He particularly supported the text on assistance to States in curbing the illicit accumulation and transfer of small weapons. His own country was uniting with others to combat the small weapons traffic.
He said that other resolutions he supported concerned: the ban on anti- personnel mines that was agreed to in Ottawa; anti-personnel landmines in the context of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva; nuclear disarmament with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons; the prohibition on the dumping of radioactive waste; transparency in armaments, called for by Egypt; compliance with commitments regarding arms limitation agreements; regional disarmament measures transparency; the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures; the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and on the prohibition biological weapons.
ANTONIO DE ICAZA (Mexico) said current circumstances favoured the elimination of nuclear weapons. The end of the cold war meant the end of any kind of rationale for the nuclear arms race. However, the creation of a new order would be impeded if a handful of States insisted on indefinitely maintaining their arsenals. The non-proliferation system would not survive that position.
Concerning the draft on the Treaty of Talatelolco, he said the denuclearization of Latin America and the Caribbean had contributed to regional peace and stability. The text on a nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere had resulted from an exemplary exercise of transparency during the consultations, and he hoped that the initiative would receive all due support. The draft requesting the Conference on Disarmament to begin negotiations on a nuclear convention reflected his belief that the nuclear disarmament process must move forward in a step-by-step manner.
Continuing, he said he supported the draft concerning the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and recognized the delegation of Malaysia for having conducted intensive consultations on the draft. He welcomed the new operative paragraph 3 in the draft which called upon all States to report to the Secretary-General on their efforts and adopt measures to comply with that resolution. The nuclear disarmament process, outlined in the draft on a phased programme, must be dealt with multilaterally, in a time- bound approach. He said the adoption of effective measures to eliminate nuclear weapons must flow from bilateral understandings among the nuclear weapon States. It was unacceptable, however, that the process be undertaken only by the nuclear-weapon States, given that the threat of nuclear holocaust hovered over all States. The mandate for the Conference on Disarmament to commence multilateral negotiations on that item had been submitted by a number of delegations. Indeed, a clear set of objectives had been established in a time-bound process with a view to the total elimination of those weapons.
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He then introduced a draft on the United Nations Information Programme on Disarmament, which emphasized the Disarmament Yearbook, in particular, (document A/C.1/52/L.16).
Mr. DIAZ PEREIRA (Paraguay), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, supported the draft on the Treaty of Tlatelolco. The Latin American and Caribbean region was the first nuclear-weapon-free zone and was, therefore, a milestone that would be used as a model for similar zones elsewhere. Adopted in the middle of the cold war, the Treaty categorically rejected nuclear weapons without any reservation or exception, yet it did not diminish the right of States parties to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
NASTE CALOVSKI (The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) introduced the draft resolution on good neighbourly relations in the Balkans (document A/C.1/52/L.34). The main purpose of the draft was to ask the General Assembly to support activities in favour of peace and development in the Balkans and their speedy introduction into the community of Europe. It was very important to have the support of the international community to that end.
He introduced two oral amendments to the resolution. The new preambular paragraph 6 would read: "Emphasizing the importance of results of the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of countries of South East Europe, held in Crete, Greece, on 3 and 4 November 1997 for the peace, security, good- neighbourliness, stability and prosperity of the region."
The new operative paragraph 4 would read: "Also calls upon all Balkan States and interested parties outside the region to participate actively in and support the negotiations foreseen in annex 1B, article V of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with view to reaching early results."
MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) introduced a draft resolution on conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels (document A/C.1/52/L.40). He said the problems posed by conventional weapons must be dealt with at the global and regional levels, in both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Most arms races, especially in the conventional field, were the result of disputes and political competition in various regions and subregions.
A conscious effort was required to ensure against the creation of serious arms imbalances. This could happen if some regional States resorted to large acquisition or production of armaments, while others were denied the ability to match such acquisitions. A grave arms imbalance could encourage aggression against weaker States, and could create compulsions for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
He added that he would like to express his strong support for the draft resolution on nuclear disarmament introduced by Myanmar, which embodied the strong feelings of the committee for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
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That must continue to be the highest priority. However, he expressed reservations on a similar draft on nuclear disarmament, which did not reflect the current security situation. Also, it did not address concerns that had arisen because some States had said they would continue to maintain nuclear arsenals. Some modifications should be made to that draft.
ABDELKADER MESDOUA (Algeria) said that for three years his delegation had co-sponsored the draft on the phased programme of nuclear disarmament. He wished to reiterate his support for such efforts, especially under the present circumstances. The end of the East-West confrontation should bring with it a whole series of measures leading to a safer and more secure world. Through the current text, the co-sponsors had endeavoured to carry out a long-standing wish of nuclear disarmament in a new vision, thanks to the new impetus brought about by the end of the cold war.
JOHN CAMPBELL (Australia) introduced the draft on anti-personnel landmines (A/C.1/52/L.23). He said its full title was "Contributions Towards Banning Anti-Personnel Landmines". There were three landmine drafts before the Committee, while there had been only one in the previous Committee session.
Concerning this year's drafts, one dealt with the Ottawa process, another with 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), and the third text urged the Conference on Disarmament to intensify its efforts on landmines. The reason for the proliferation of such drafts was due to the fact that the sponsors of the various drafts wished to put forward single-issue texts. Three cross-references in the drafts referred to activity in forums other than those covered in the particular drafts. Single issue drafts deserved respect and the draft he had just introduced followed their example.
However, the three resolutions were not competing with each other, he said. On the contrary, their complementary nature was evidenced by the fact that several countries had co-sponsored all three drafts. Australia would co- sponsor two of those drafts and vote in favour of all three. The draft just introduced, which was brief, focused, and non-contentious, also allowed those countries unable to commit to the Ottawa process to indicate their support for action that would contribute to its objectives.
ANDRE MERNIER (Belgium) said his country had co-sponsored the draft just presented by Australia. It had a long-standing commitment to eliminating the scourge of landmines and commended the results reached in the Ottawa process. However, from the beginning his country had objected to forums that were exclusive. He called for the Conference on Disarmament to put landmines on its agenda.
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MARKKU REIMAA (Finland), speaking on the resolution just introduced by Australia, said that since last year the international agreement to ban anti- personnel mines had been the object of much discussion. His country was ready to contribute towards the worldwide elimination of such weapons and had co- sponsored the draft. However, the Conference on Disarmament should also work on negotiations on landmines. The resolution had been co-sponsored by countries that were committed to the Ottawa process and by countries that could not support the ban agreed to in Oslo. The draft did not contradict the text introduced on the Ottawa process.
DAVID DANIELI (Israel), addressing the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East -- A/C.1/52/L.5 -- said it was a transparent political move to single out and condemn Israel, not to prevent nuclear- proliferation in the region. In fact, it diverted attention from the true risks of nuclear proliferation in the region. The political realities of the region took shape outside the Committee room and co-sponsors of that draft should take a comprehensive position. As long as the Committee did not look at the major risks of nuclear proliferation, it would remain irrelevant to the real situation. There was also a draft text on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, which rendered the draft on the risk of nuclear proliferation superfluous and redundant.
He then introduced an oral amendment to draft resolution A/C.1/52/L.4* (*reissued for technical reasons) as follows: in operative paragraph 4 the words "the activities of" should be reinserted as per the original release.
He introduced an amendment to the draft resolution on the establishment of the nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. Operative paragraph 10 would be replaced with the following: "Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue, in consultations with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures outlined in chapters III and IV of the study annexed to his report or other relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a nuclear- weapon-free zone in the Middle East."
IAN SOUTAR (United Kingdom), speaking on the draft on landmines introduced by Australia, said that he was fully committed to a comprehensive global ban of anti-personnel landmines. It was for that reason that his delegation participated in the Ottawa process and looked forward to the Convention's signing. Many countries did not find it possible to join in the process. However, many wished to address the issues raised by those weapons of mass destruction. In that regard, he also endorsed any action taken in the Conference on Disarmament.
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JOELLE BOURGOIS (France) said that the painful subject of anti-personnel landmines was undoubtedly one of the predominant issues of the current Committee session. Yesterday, Canada had introduced a draft calling on all States to join the Ottawa Convention. France would sign the Convention in Ottawa on 3 December and immediately thereafter begin the ratification process.
She said that the Convention gave rise to great hope, born of the horror felt by the international community over the scourge that killed and maimed with implacable regularity. For a number of years, France had made combating those weapons a priority. The Ottawa Convention provided for a complete prohibition, without exception. That was why France and many others had opted for the treaty, which placed, above all else, the protection of human life.
While certain States were not in a position to join the vast Ottawa movement in the foreseeable future, for reasons of their own which must be respected, they were duty-bound to recognize the reality of the scourge and be ready to assume their responsibility, she said. A close and constructive dialogue must ensue and Geneva was the place for such a dialogue. Although its achievement might be more modest than that of the Ottawa treaty, any such work could constitute a new victory in the struggle.
MAHMOUD KAREM (Egypt) introduced the draft on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East (A/C.1/52/L.4). He said the resolution had been adopted annually by the Assembly since its introduction in 1974, and adopted by consensus since 1980. That consensus was a clear testimony to the viability and relevance of that concept in the Middle East. Furthermore, it would greatly contribute to arresting the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to the strengthening regional security.
He said that during the forty-fifth session of the General Assembly, a study was presented for the Committee's consideration. It was generally well- received as a useful and balanced approach. It concluded that the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region could be reached. The efforts required would be great, but then so would the benefits. While he fully realized that the insecurity and regional stability would only be achieved through a just and comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, it was necessary to create a climate based on equal security for all.
ROBERT GREY (United States) introduced the draft resolution on bilateral nuclear arms negotiation and nuclear disarmament (A/C.1/52/L.32). He said that the draft placed on the record the recent positive developments in reducing the strategic nuclear weapons arsenals of the Russian Federation and the United States and in strengthening the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM).
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He said that among other signs of progress since last year's resolution had been the March 1997 Helsinki understandings between the two Presidents. They agreed that, following the entry into force of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (START II), they would immediately begin negotiations on a START III agreement. That agreement would establish by 31 December 2007, lower aggregate levels of 2,000 to 2,500 strategic nuclear warheads. It would take measures relating to the transparency and destruction of strategic nuclear warheads, as well as delivery systems, and it would carry out other actions to promote the irreversibility of those deep reductions.
The current draft recognized that much work remained in the field of nuclear disarmament, he said. However, in urging the United States and the Russian Federation to begin negotiations on a START III and encouraging them to continue, as the highest priority, to reduce their nuclear weapons, provided further impetus to the nuclear-weapon States to continue meeting their obligations under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Even on the eve of drastic reductions, satisfaction had not led to complacency. Ambitious goals were set for the future. The current draft deserved the support of all members of the international community and, on behalf of the Russian Federation and the United States, he would ask for that support.
He said he was pleased to be among the co-sponsors of the draft introduced by Australia on landmines. It was intended to supplement the very important work on the issue already under way. The draft provided a complement to the two resolutions already tabled by the Committee and was not in competition with other drafts, nor in competition with other work completed elsewhere. There was a common directive and steps in various forums could only support that objective. The Australian draft had already brought on board a number of key States who could in no other way support the landmine efforts.
AKIRA HAYASHI (Japan), speaking in support of the landmine draft introduced by Australia, said that his country had spared no effort to address the problems caused by those weapons and appreciated any contributions in that regard. At the same time, a number of countries could not join an immediate ban, at least at this stage, even as the international community continued its efforts towards a total ban.
In that regard, he said the Conference on Disarmament could make a significant contribution in that area, because it had both the participation of key countries and the experience to forge a treaty that took into account security and humanitarian concerns. The draft in no way intended to undermine or compete with other efforts. Rather, it was another attempt to contribute to the solution. He supported the text and appealed to other countries to do so.
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GUNTHER SEIBERT (Germany) said that freeing the world of the scourge of anti-personnel landmines was one of the top priorities of disarmament policy and was the reason that Germany was fully committed to the Ottawa process. He welcomed the strong support for the draft introduced by Canada and the widespread Committee support. The signing in Ottawa would be a historic landmark in the struggle against those weapons. However, that treaty would not be the end of the process.
He would appeal to all countries not yet in a position to sign the Ottawa Convention to consider signing it as soon as possible. He welcomed all efforts to attain the ultimate goal. In that regard, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons remained a major contribution. Germany had ratified the revised Protocol II of that Convention and he would appeal to other countries to ratify it by the earliest possible date.
His country had also co-sponsored the draft introduced by Sweden, and thanked the Australian delegation for its draft. The dramatic humanitarian problem required solidarity, which was why his country had decided to co- sponsor all three drafts. Such solidarity would show the world and the victims that the international community represented in the Committee could rise and speak with one voice against the terrible problem of anti-personnel landmines.
M. J. MOHER (Canada) presented a resolution on the Status of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (document A/C.1/52/L.45) [not yet available]. He said it was particularly important that the Committee act in as positive a way as possible on the draft. Since the Convention had entered into force this year, many more States had since become parties.
Another significant development had been the establishment of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), he said. The Committee should note that event with satisfaction. The draft resolution itself was currently being processed by the Secretariat. It had been carefully negotiated by delegates, and represented delicate compromises. More importantly, it reflected a consensus. Differences of substance, priority or emphasis concerning implementation of the Convention, would remain to be worked on by the OPCW.
GHOLAMHOSSEIN DEHGHANI (Iran) addressed the draft resolution on nuclear disarmament that had been introduced by Myanmar. He supported the draft, which was a timely initiative that addressed the highest-priority issue. The most effective guarantee against the nuclear threat was nuclear disarmament. The resolution provided a clear path to get rid of those horrendous weapons.
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Mr. DANIELI (Israel) said he objected to the technical reissue of draft resolution L.4. The reissue had contained significant changes and should have been reissued as a revision. He wished to move formally that operative paragraph 4 retain the words that had been left out in the technical reissue.
ABDEL AZIZ (Egypt), whose country had sponsored the text, said the words had been left out by the editors, who had made a mistake. It had not represented a substantive change in content. He hoped that the Secretariat could clear up the misunderstanding with Israel.
KYO-CHUNG LIN, Secretary of the Committee, confirmed that the mistake had been made by the editors.
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