DISARMAMENT COMMISSION APPROVES AGENDA FOR 1998 SESSION, TO BE HELD FROM 6 TO 28 APRIL

2 December 1997

Press Release
DC/2594

DISARMAMENT COMMISSION APPROVES AGENDA FOR 1998 SESSION, TO BE HELD FROM 6 TO 28 APRIL

19971202 At an organizational meeting this morning, the Disarmament Commission approved the provisional agenda for its forthcoming 1998 substantive session, to be held from 6 to 28 April. Among the issues to be considered by the Commission is the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned. It will review questions relating to the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, to be held next year, and also consider guidelines on conventional arms control, limitation and disarmament. Working groups were established to consider each of those issues. A Committee of the Whole was also established. Also this morning, the Chairman of the Commission reviewed the three draft resolutions relating to the Commission, which were approved by the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) at its current session. By a draft resolution on the report of the Disarmament Commission (document A/C.1/52/L.21), the Assembly would reaffirm the Commission's role as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommendations. By a text on the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament (document A/C.1/52/L.11/Rev.1), the Assembly would decide to convene that session, subject to the emergence of consensus on its objectives and agenda. It would endorse the recommendation of the Disarmament Commission at its 1997 session to include consideration of the special session on the agenda of its 1998 session. A draft resolution on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures (document A/C.1/52/L.18) would have the Assembly stress the particular relevance of the deliberations at the 1997 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission concerning guidelines on conventional arms control, limitation and disarmament. The Disarmament Commission will meet again at a date to be announced in the Journal.

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