CUBA'S REPRESENTATIVE LINKS RATIFICATION OF TLATELOLCO TREATY TO IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH UNITED STATES

6 April 1998

Press Release
DC/2601

CUBA'S REPRESENTATIVE LINKS RATIFICATION OF TLATELOLCO TREATY TO IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH UNITED STATES

19980406 Addressing Disarmament Commission, Calls for End to United States Restrictions against Cuba

Although Cuba had signed the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) in 1995, its ratification was indissolubly linked to a change in conditions that might lead to a climate of peace and full respect between Cuba and the United States, the representative of Cuba said this afternoon. He was addressing the Disarmament Commission as it continued its general exchange of views.

While affirming Cuba's commitment to the causes of Latin American integration, nuclear disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, he stressed the need for an end to the policy of aggression and restriction against his country. He also said that while nuclear-weapon-free zones were of enormous importance, the simultaneous adoption of other actions aimed at eliminating nuclear weapons was also required.

Young democracies were in particular need of measures that strengthened their regional security, the representative of Uzbekistan told the Commission. His country sought the continued support of the international community for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia. Mongolia's initiative to establish a single State nuclear-weapon-free zone also deserved special attention, he said.

The representative of Bulgaria said that a comprehensive, balanced and non-discriminatory approach to the control and reduction of small arms was particularly relevant in view of the excessive accumulation and proliferation of such weapons in certain parts of south-eastern Europe, where post-conflict ethnic and political tension still existed. The negative effect on the fragile stability of that region resulting from insufficient control and illicit trafficking of small arms was a matter of deep concern.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Canada, Belarus and Costa Rica.

The Commission will meet again at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 8 April, to continue its general debate.

Commission Work Programme

The Disarmament Commission met this afternoon to continue its general exchange of views. During its current session, the Commission will consider three key issues: the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones; a fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament; and guidelines on conventional arms control, limitation and disarmament. (For background, see Press Release DC/2600 of 6 April.)

Statements

PHILIP DIMITROV (Bulgaria) said there was need for a comprehensive approach to the control and reduction of small arms in a balanced and non- discriminatory manner. Such an approach was particularly relevant in view of the excessive accumulation and proliferation of those weapons in certain countries and regions of south-eastern Europe, where post-conflict ethnic and political tension still existed. Bulgaria was deeply concerned that insufficient control and illicit trafficking in small arms in those countries continued to have a negative effect on the fragile stability of the region as a whole.

He said his country attached great importance to transparency in international arms transfer. The establishment of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms represented a first modest step in setting up a working mechanism for transparency. It had to be implemented smoothly and developed gradually for the cause of peace and security. No tangible results could be achieved in that area unless a reasonable balance was established between the legitimate arms requirements of suppliers and recipients, on the one hand, and the need to promote arms control, on the other hand.

Bulgaria considered internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free zones as an effective means of promoting nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, he said. Regional approaches to nuclear disarmament had the additional advantage of producing beneficial effects in other areas of disarmament as well. There could be no uniform pattern for nuclear-weapon-free zones, in view of dissimilar geographic circumstances and different political, economic and strategic considerations.

GORDON VACHON (Canada) said that while the Commission last year discussed various aspects of the nuclear-weapon-free zone issue, it had yet to identify a focus that would take its members beyond the current debates. Canada, for its part, encouraged progress towards the development and implementation of existing nuclear-weapon-free zone agreements. Such arrangements, freely arrived at among the States concerned, particularly in regions of conflict, enhanced regional and global peace and security and contributed to non-proliferation and disarmament. However, such positive

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developments could not be taken for granted. Canada also encouraged adherence to those agreements by the nuclear-weapon States.

There was a way to go before the deliberations on a fourth special session on disarmament would shape an appropriate framework and balanced agenda, he said. However, consensus was a necessary prerequisite for a meaningful session that might contribute to the current and future work on disarmament.

Significant developments over the past year had furthered the consolidation of peace. First and foremost were the changes in the Organization itself, which included the appointment of Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Jayantha Dhanapala. The second was the group of interested States established in accordance with General Assembly resolution 52/38 G, which met place last month to focus on practical disarmament measures. Present at that meeting were representatives of the United Nations Departments of Disarmament Affairs, Peacekeeping Operations and Political Affairs, further demonstrating the level of interest on those issues.

PEDRO NUÑEZ-MOSQUERA (Cuba) said the Disarmament Commission had a key role to play as the multilateral mechanism for disarmament. Attempts by some countries either to end its work or to reduce its importance would not be supported by Cuba. The Commission should continue to maintain its three-item agenda format. The general debate at the beginning of the session should continue to be held, and all delegations must be given an opportunity to express their opinions.

He said that last year's discussions on the establishment of nuclear- weapon-free zones had identified an important range of elements. Questions relating to basic principles and institutional arrangements would require further attention. While some zones were of enormous importance, they constituted only partial security measures, requiring the simultaneous adoption of other actions aimed at eliminating nuclear weapons.

He said his country's view of the Treaty of Tlatelolco should be seen in the context of the specific situation created by the policy of blockade and the aggressive climate fostered by the Government of the United States against Cuba. Although his country had signed that Treaty in 1995 to reaffirm its support for the denuclearization of the region, its ratification was indissolubly linked to a change in conditions that would make possible a climate of peace and full respect between two countries. That would necessarily involve an end to the policy of aggression and the lifting of all restrictive measures against Cuba. Those remarks must not be interpreted in any way as digressing from Cuba's unswerving commitment to the cause of Latin American integration, nuclear disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

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He said that despite successive resolutions by the General Assembly since 1994 calling for the convening of a fourth special session on disarmament, it appeared increasingly unlikely that it would ever be held. That was because of the lack of cooperation by a nuclear Power for the holding of the session.

ALISHER VOHIDOV (Uzbekistan) said that Commission's the current session was being held at a time of increased attention by the international community and the United Nations Secretariat to disarmament issues. The upgrading of the Centre for Disarmament Affairs into a separate department and the addition of an Under-Secretary-General in the disarmament sphere was evidence of that attention. Particular importance should be given to the expansion of nuclear- weapon-free zones, a trend that was highlighted during the 1995 Review and Extension Conference for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and in the first preparatory session for the NPT Review Conference to be held in the year 2000.

As one of its first steps as a newly independent State, Uzbekistan had acceded to the NPT, he said. However, only by creating global security would it be possible to create secure and stable regions. The political unity and mutual understanding of the five countries of Central Asia was demonstrated in the General Assembly resolution which called on all States to support the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in that region, asking the Secretary-General to assist in the elaboration of such a treaty. Taking into account the common elements and the differing aspects of each nuclear-weapon- free zone Treaty, the content of a Central Asian draft would take account of the region's ecological condition.

Nuclear-weapon-free zones contributed to the non-proliferation regime and to the strengthening of peace and security, he said. Mongolia's initiative to establish a single State nuclear-weapon-free zone deserved special attention. Young democracies, in particular, needed measures to strengthen their regional security. Uzbekistan sought the continued support of the international community for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia.

ALYAKSANDR SYCHOU (Belarus) said his delegation welcomed the establishment of the Department of Disarmament Affairs in the United Nations, as well as the appointment of Under-Secretary-General Jayantha Dhanapala as its head. Belarus also welcomed the decision of the United Kingdom and France today to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Many positive developments continued in the field of disarmament. It was an indication that the position of a number of States had become more stable, as well as of a willingness by the international community to work together towards a common goal.

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He said the Commission should examine the idea of creating a belt of good neighbourliness, friendship, stability and security in Eastern Europe and the Baltic subregion, with the Russian Federation and the United States as guarantors. To that end, it would be necessary to consider disarmament measures in Eastern Europe, decreasing the military presence in border areas, increasing the transparency of military expenditure and widening the exchange of military information on a bilateral and multilateral basis.

There was a broad nuclear-weapon-free space in the Central European subregion, he said. Belarus had striven to make the region free of nuclear weapons. In practical terms, there was an urgent need to define long-term priorities in disarmament. The work of the Commission should be rationalized and streamlined. There should be a constructive consultation with other delegations on that issue.

EMILIA CASTRO DE BARISH (Costa Rica) said her country attached utmost importance to the three items under discussion during the current session. It was hoped that the trends evidenced by the establishment and consolidation of nuclear-weapon-free zones would continue. The work of the Commission could prove highly valuable in that process.

She said that Costa Rica enthusiastically supported the convening of the fourth special session. Her country welcomed the conviction expressed by the Assembly that such a session might establish the future course of action in the disarmament and arms control spheres, and with respect to international security. It was hoped that the Commission's current session would produce a consensus on the objectives and agenda for the session, so it might be convened in the near future.

She said the Assembly had last year adopted a resolution reaffirming the objective of the United Nations to maintain peace and security. That same resolution reaffirmed the role of the United Nations in disarmament, as well as the commitment by Member States to undertake tangible measures to strengthen that role. In other words, the Organization and the Disarmament Commission had an active role to play in the sphere of disarmament.

Guidelines on conventional weapons were of great interest to developing counties, which were the chief users and greatest victims of such weapons, she said. Costa Rica was extremely concerned about the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mines, perverse weapons which the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) had long warned against. The idea of a lengthy moratorium was equivalent to keeping those weapons for a time and then selling them for a higher price. Replacing the culture of war with a culture of peace would favourably impact on all disarmament efforts.

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