DRAFT RESOLUTION ON BILATERAL NUCLEAR ARMS NEGOTIATIONS INTRODUCED BY UNITED STATES IN FIRST COMMITTEE

30 October 1998

Press Release
GA/DIS/3124

DRAFT RESOLUTION ON BILATERAL NUCLEAR ARMS NEGOTIATIONS INTRODUCED BY UNITED STATES IN FIRST COMMITTEE

19981030 Texts Also Introduced on Fissile Material, Middle East, Register of Conventional Arms, Military Expenditures, Information Programme

The Assembly would urge the Russian Federation and the United States to give reducing nuclear weapons the highest priority in order to contribute to the ultimate goal of eliminating those weapons, according to one of six draft resolutions introduced this morning in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

In introducing that text, the representative of the United States said that it placed on the record the significant progress made in reducing the strategic nuclear weapons arsenals of the Russian Federation and the United States and provided further impetus to the nuclear-weapon States to meet their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

The representative of Canada introduced a draft resolution by which the Assembly would welcome the decision of the Conference on Disarmament to establish -- under its agenda item on the cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament -- an ad hoc committee to negotiate a verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.

The Assembly would urge all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, by the terms of a draft introduced by the representative of Egypt. By its further terms, the Assembly would invite the countries of the region not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or to allow their stationing on their territories.

According to one of two transparency-related drafts, the Assembly would call upon Member States to provide annually the requested data for the Register of Conventional Arms and invite those States in a position to do so, to provide additional information on procurement from national production and military holdings.

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In introducing that text, the representative of the Netherlands assured delegations that, although it recalled its request to Member States to provide their views on the Register's operation and development and on transparency measures related to weapons of mass destruction, that provision did not intend to burden the Register by expanding its scope to include transparency of weapons of mass destruction.

By the terms of the second transparency text, the Assembly would call upon all Member States to report annually to the Secretary-General their military expenditures for the latest fiscal year for which data were available, and to provide him with suggestions to strengthen and broaden participation in the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures, including necessary changes to its content and structure. The representative of Germany introduced the draft.

Another draft resolution would have the Assembly stress the importance of the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme as a significant instrument in enabling all Member States to participate fully in disarmament negotiations, and assisting them in complying with treaties and contributing to agreed transparency mechanisms. The Assembly would recommend that the Programme focus on generating public understanding of the importance of and support for multilateral action in arms limitation and disarmament. The text was introduced by the representative of Mexico.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Panama, Romania, Brazil, France, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea and Pakistan.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its thematic discussion and introduction of draft resolutions.

Committee Work Programme

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this morning to continue its thematic discussion and consideration of all disarmament and security-related draft resolutions.

The Committee is expected to hear the introduction of draft resolutions concerning: prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons; establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; bilateral nuclear arms control; objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures; transparency in armaments; and the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme.

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.1/53/L.3) would have the General Assembly urge all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required to establish such a zone and, as a means of promoting that objective, invite concerned countries to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). It would call on all countries of the region to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

By further terms, the Assembly would invite those countries not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or to allow the stationing of those 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 spirit of the resolution.

A draft resolution on implementing the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme (document A/C.1/53/L.18), would have the Assembly stress the importance of the Programme as a significant instrument in enabling all Member States to participate fully in disarmament negotiations, and assisting them in complying with treaties and contributing to agreed transparency mechanisms.

The Assembly would recommend that the Programme focus its efforts on, among other things, generating public understanding of the importance of and support for multilateral action in arms limitation and disarmament, including action by the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament, in a factual, balanced and objective manner. In particular, that could be done through publication of the United Nations Disarmament Yearbook in all official languages, updates of the Status of Multilateral Arms Regulation and Disarmament Agreements, and ad hoc publications and the Internet and other outreach activities, such as the Messenger of Peace.

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The draft resolution is sponsored by Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, Peru and South Africa.

According to a draft text sponsored by Canada on the prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices (document A/C.1/53/L.24), the Assembly would welcome the decision of the Conference on Disarmament to establish, under item 1 of its agenda on the cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament, an ad hoc committee to negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special Coordinator, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The Assembly would note, with satisfaction, that the ad hoc committee had already engaged in the first step in the substantive negotiations and would encourage the Conference to re-establish the ad hoc committee at the beginning of the 1999 session.

By the terms of a draft resolution on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures (document A/C.1/53/L.30), the Assembly would recommend the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters to all Member States for implementation, fully taking into account specific political, military and other regional conditions, on the basis of initiatives and with the agreement of the States of the region concerned. It would call upon them to report annually, by 30 April, to the Secretary-General their military expenditures for the latest fiscal year for which data were available.

The Assembly would also call upon all Member States to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the analysis and recommendations contained in his report of 4 August (document A/53/218) and with further suggestions to strengthen and broaden participation in the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures, including necessary changes to its content and structure. It would request him to send an annual note verbale to Member States requesting the submission of such data and to timely publish the due date for transmitting such data in appropriate United Nations media.

The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General to consult with relevant international bodies with a view to encouraging wider participation, with emphasis on examining possibilities to enhance complementarity among international and regional reporting systems, and to exchange related information with those bodies. It would ask him to recommend the necessary changes to the reporting system to strengthen and broaden participation and to submit a report to the Assembly at its fifty-fourth session.

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In a related provision, the Assembly would encourage relevant international bodies and regional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures and to enhance complementarity among reporting systems.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and the United States.

Under the terms of another draft resolution on transparency in armaments (document A/C.1/53/L.43), the Assembly would call upon Member States, with a view to achieving universal participation, to provide the Secretary-General, by 31 May annually, the requested data for the Register of Conventional Arms, including nil reports if appropriate. It would also invite Member States in a position to do so, pending further development of the Register, to provide additional information on procurement from national production and military holdings.

The Assembly would reaffirm its decision to keep the scope and participation of the Register under review. Towards that end, the Assembly would recall its request that the Secretary-General prepare a report, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in the year 2000, on the Register's continuing operation and further development, with a view to a decision at the fifty-fifth session. It would also request the Secretary-General to ensure that sufficient resources were made available for the operation and maintenance of the register.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

A draft resolution sponsored by Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and the United States on bilateral nuclear arms control (document A/C.1/53/L.49) would have the Assembly urge the Russian Federation and the United States in their efforts to reduce their nuclear weapons and to continue

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to give those efforts the highest priority in order to contribute to the ultimate goal of eliminating those weapons.

The Assembly would welcome the entry into force of the 1991 Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START) and the signing of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States on the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START II) in January 1993, and it would urge the parties to bring that Treaty into force at the earliest possible date.

It would express its satisfaction at the continuing implementation of the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles, in particular at the completion by the parties, of the destruction of all their declared missiles subject to elimination under the Treaty.

The Assembly would also welcome the initiative signed by Presidents Boris Yeltsin and William Clinton on 2 September 1998 to exchange information on the ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles derived from each side's missile launch warning system, including the possible establishment of a centre for the exchange of missile launch data operated by Russia and the United States and separate from their respective national centres. It would further welcome their agreement to examine bilaterally the possibility of establishing a multilateral ballistic missile and space launch vehicle pre-launch notification regime in which other States could voluntarily participate.

It would encourage Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States to continue their cooperative efforts aimed at eliminating strategic offensive arms on the basis of existing agreements, and would welcome the contributions of other States to such cooperation as well. It would welcome the participation of Kazakhstan and Ukraine as non-nuclear-weapon States in the NPT.

Statements

HERNAN TEJEIRA (Panama), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group, commented on the draft text on transparency in armaments (document A/C.1/53/L.43). He said transparency was vital for the promotion of diplomacy among States and towards the enhancement of international peace and security. The United Nations and related international organizations must play a primary and significant role in stemming the illicit traffic in arms. States must work together to contain the problem and promote confidence-building measures. The adoption by individual countries of measures that would promote transparency would be significant in that regard.

In order to make progress on the issue, he said the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms should be expanded and it was most crucial that all United Nations Member States cooperate to that end. The heads of States

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and governments of the Rio Group met in September 1998 and underlined the central importance of transparency as a confidence-building measure that would promote defence cooperation among the Member States and in the hemisphere as a whole. They reiterated their intention to move towards effective reductions in weapons stockpiles and also supported the initiative of the Member States of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) in declaring their region a zone of peace, free from weapons of mass destruction, such as anti-personnel landmines. There were plans to extend that regime to the entire hemisphere.

He said the Inter-American Convention against the Manufacturing and Illicit Trafficking in Weapons, Munitions and Explosives and Other Related Materials was a very significant instrument in terms regional security cooperation. Illicit trafficking in arms was causing alarming damage to collective stability and the process of increased transparency in the Americas could serve as a model for others.

FRANK MAJOOR (Netherlands), in introducing the draft resolution on transparency in armaments (document A/C.1/53/L.43), said that the Conference on Disarmament remained the appropriate forum to discuss transparency in all aspects and to deal with that issue substantively and comprehensively. He, therefore, favoured the establishment of an ad hoc committee in the Conference with a mandate to allow for an in-depth discussion of all aspects and to study the wealth of proposals put forth in that body's secretariat paper.

He said that while transparency and confidence-building measures were essential characteristics of that discussion, misunderstanding surrounded those measures, as well as the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. It was essential to recognize that transparency could only work if such measures were entered into freely by all concerned. Attempts to impose particular measures on any country lacked an understanding of the nature of confidence-building.

Further, he said the Register's call for countries to voluntarily provide the requested data should be complemented by regional and subregional measures tailored to the security needs of the countries involved. Confidence-building and transparency measures by themselves, however, could not solve regional problems or conflicts. Yet, they remained a small, but necessary part of increased regional and global security.

The draft resolution being introduced today should not be seen as the only instrument in which transparency should be addressed, he said. It focused, in a consensual manner, on the Register and its further development. The standardized reporting system on military expenditures was a transparency measure, which served as a central point in the discussions on small arms and was addressed in other Committee texts. Transparency was also an important element in the context of weapons of mass destruction, as an element in compliance and safeguards regimes.

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He said that transparency was an important aspect of the work being done by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). In the framework of biological weapons, hard work was under way on an effective compliance regime. Nuclear weapons-related verification arrangements either existed or were being negotiated in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and within the framework of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The draft referred to weapons of mass destruction and invited delegations to express their views to the Secretary-General. The Register, however, should not be burdened by that subject, since expanding its scope in that way might jeopardize its functioning.

ALEXANDRU HICULESCU (Romania) said that as a traditional co-sponsor of the draft resolution on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures (document A/C.1/53/L.30), his delegation attached great importance to increased transparency in the military field, which could lead to greater confidence among States. Recent regional experiences, including in Central Europe, had underlined that confidence remained essential to the maintenance of international peace and security. Strengthened confidence-building activities could indeed relieve regional and global tensions, and prevent misunderstandings that might lead to an irreversible military confrontation.

He said his Government was firmly convinced that the Register of Conventional Arms was still valid and its implementation would reduce regional and global tensions. Regrettably, however, participation in previous years had fallen short of expectations. His country, therefore, attached great importance to the call, in operative paragraph 4, for all Member States to report annually to the Secretary-General on their military expenditures. The resumption of consultations by the Secretary-General, aimed at adjusting the Register with a view to enhancing participation, was welcome. He was similarly encouraged by the appointment of a special coordinator on transparency in armaments in the Conference on Disarmament.

ANGELICA J. ARCE (Mexico), while introducing the draft text on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme (document A/C.1/53/L.18), said her country's involvement with the draft was consistent with its tradition of supporting United Nations disarmament activities. The draft stated that the re-establishment of the Department of Disarmament Affairs underscored the need to reinvigorate the disarmament process.

She said the draft's emphasis on the need to expand the electronic means of information did not imply that other traditional means should be abandoned. Further, the importance of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on the issue should be stressed and the level of commitment of United Nations Member States to the Fund should increase. She hoped the draft would be adopted by consensus.

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NABIL A. ELARABY (Egypt) introduced the draft resolution on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East (document A/C.1/53/L.3). Drafts on that item had been adopted by the General Assembly since 1974, and by consensus since 1980, he said. Such consensus, as well as the steadfast support the item had received in bilateral declarations, was clear testimony to the viability and relevance of the concept. The zone's establishment in the Middle East would greatly contribute towards arresting the proliferation of the threat of nuclear weapons and strengthening regional security and confidence-building.

He said that although the zone had been unanimously anticipated for more than 17 years, its establishment had remained elusive. Despite his country's frustration, it firmly supported the draft's implementation and remained committed to its earliest establishment. In a region such as the Middle East, a nuclear-weapon-free zone should not be viewed as a post-peace dividend, but as an essential step towards lasting peace. While such peace could only be achieved through the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, it was essential to create the conditions to facilitate that achievement. The establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone would contribute substantially to that end.

HENRIQUE R. VALLE (Brazil), spoke on behalf of the member States of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), as well as Bolivia and Chile. Commenting on the draft resolution dealing with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention) anti-personnel landmines (document A/C.1/53/L.33), he said MERCOSUR was proud to be the first organization whose member States had all signed the Ottawa Convention. They were aware of the commitment of the international community to eradicate those terribly destructive weapons. The issue of demining the affected parts of the world was an enormous challenge because mines posed a formidable obstacle to economic development and also imperiled peacekeeping operations which made conflict management arduous.

Continuing, he said his region was striving to become the first region in the world free of the landmines scourge. In that respect, the zone of peace initiative by MERCOSUR was also designed to make the area free of mines and other weapons of mass destruction. The offer by the Government of Mozambique to host the first meeting of the States Party to the Ottawa Convention was commendable and his Government would do its utmost to contribute positively in that meeting.

RALPH EARLE (United States) introduced the draft resolution on bilateral nuclear arms negotiations and nuclear disarmament (document A/C.1/53/L.49) on behalf of the Russian Federation and the other three co-sponsors, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

He said the draft placed on the record significant progress made in reducing the strategic nuclear-weapons arsenals of the Russian Federation and the United States. Such signs of progress included the initiative signed in September between Presidents William Clinton and Boris Yeltsin to exchange information on the ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles derived from

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each side's missile launch warning system. The Presidents had also agreed to examine bilaterally the possibility of establishing a multilateral ballistic missile and space launch vehicle pre-launch notification regime, in which other States could voluntarily participate.

He said that the draft resolution welcomed the pledge made by those two countries in September to remove, by stages, approximately 50 metric tons of plutonium from each of their nuclear-weapon programmes and to convert that material, so that it could never be used in nuclear weapons. It recognized that much work remained to be done in that field. It also urged the United States and Russia to begin negotiations on a START III agreement immediately after START II entered into force. It also encouraged them to continue to give reduction of nuclear weapons the highest priority. By welcoming the reductions made in that regard by other nuclear-weapon States, it had provided further impetus to the nuclear-weapon States to continue to meet their obligations under Article VI of the NPT.

MARK MOHER (Canada), introduced the draft text on the prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices (document A/C.1/53/L.24). He said that in view of some informal comments by some delegates on that draft, his country had requested the Secretariat to issue a revised document with the following heading:

"The Conference on Disarmament decision to establish, under agenda item 1 of its agenda entitled "cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament" an ad hoc committee to negotiate, on the basis of the report of the special coordinator (CD/1299) and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices"

That change reflected upon operative paragraph one of the draft, and he hoped it met the concerns of the affected States, he added. It was evident that the draft dealt with an issue with a long and difficult history and complex negotiations ahead. The draft was not designed to review that history nor to prejudge the negotiations ahead.

He said the draft was strictly procedural and anchored firmly on actions taken in the Conference on Disarmament. Thus, his Government was of the view that no amendments should be made on the text, since to do so would only open up substantive issues best left to the Conference itself. The Committee should welcome the progress in the Conference on Disarmament and encourage the continuation of the process in 1999.

PAUL DAHAN (France) focused on the draft concerning the Ottawa Convention (document A/C.1/53/L.33). He said his country would support the draft, primarily because of the humanitarian aspects of the Convention. However, it was very concerned that important producer and user countries of those weapons had not joined the Convention. In the light of his country's

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aim to fully implement its demining aspect, it would ask the Conference on Disarmament to promote those efforts.

He said his country also supported Protocol II of 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). The Protocol, which called for a partial landmines ban, would enter into force on 3 December. France would also appeal to those important countries outside the Protocol to adhere to it.

AHMED AL-HAMRANI (Saudi Arabia) said there was no balance of power in the current world order and that threatened the future of humanity. A new world order in the post-cold-war period designed to strengthen international security should be created in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. In that context, his Government asked for effective international control of fissile materials and missiles and for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.

At the same time, all existing nuclear arsenals in the region should be dismantled, he continued. Those stockpiles raised the danger of proliferation and, by that token, constituted a grave threat to civilization and to the survival of the human race. In the interest of the security and stability of the region, his Government urged all the regional States to adopt moderate foreign policies and credible confidence-building measures which would ensure the collective security and prosperity of all concerned.

MOON DUK-SO (Republic of Korea) said that concerning the draft text on the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) Weapons and on Their Destruction (Biological Weapons Convention) (document A/C.1/53/L.6), his Government attached great importance to the early conclusion of negotiations in the ad hoc group negotiating a protocol on an effective verification regime.

He said he supported the main thrust of the draft, but an important element was missing, namely the broad participation of States parties in those negotiations. That was essential for achieving universal adherence to the protocol, without which no legal disarmament instrument could be effective. His delegation had decided not to pursue the matter further, but would add such broad participation to the call in operative paragraph 3 to have States parties accelerate those negotiations.

Regarding the draft resolution concerning the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and of Their Destruction (Chemical Weapons Convention) (document A/C.1/53/L.38/Rev.1), he said that as one of the original States parties, his country had welcomed progress made in the current draft, which shifted the emphasis from the Convention's status to its implementation. It also seemed to address the measures required to pursue a chemical weapons ban.

In the context of verification, he expressed concern that the third preambular paragraph, while noting with satisfaction the increased number of

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ratifications to the Convention and while welcoming its status, it had not noted that it still fell short of the criteria for universal adherence, given that major possessors of those weapons had still declined to join it. That language might give the wrong impression that the international community was satisfied with the current status. It was of cardinal importance to achieve universal adherence, which should be reiterated in that paragraph in order to avoid misunderstanding.

Indeed, the goal of universality should prevail over the other principles enshrined in the Convention itself, which could not be upheld without universality, he said. That point could not be overemphasized. He looked forward to consensus approval of the text and wished only to record his country's legitimate concern.

MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) commented on the draft resolution on the prohibition of the production of fissile materials (document A/C.1/53/L.24) introduced by Canada. He welcomed the change to the title of the draft, because, although long, it reflected the factual evolution of the issue in the Conference on Disarmament. He welcomed the resumption of the negotiations on a fissile material treaty, based on certain understanding and expectations.

With regard to the security situation in South Asia, he said his Government remained of the opinion that regional security and nuclear non-proliferation would be promoted through cooperation, rather than coercive measures. Unfortunately, since the commencement of the Committee's meetings, rather than cooperation, he had witnessed the resumption of a coercive approach by the same delegation that sponsored the draft resolution. For that reason, his Government would be unable to share in the consensus on the issue in the Conference on Disarmament.

He said Pakistan had always maintained that the fissile-material treaty must be one that promoted both nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. That was the position of the General Assembly, of the Non-Aligned Movement and equally the position of Canada in previous draft resolutions on the subject. Unfortunately, that no longer seemed to be the case with regard to Canada.

Accordingly, he would like to see some amendments. The draft should specifically state that the cessation of the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons purposes should lead to the elimination of nuclear weapons. Further, the draft should note the differences among Member States regarding the scope and objective of the treaty. It must be underscored that the negotiation of such a treaty formed an integral step in the process of nuclear disarmament, towards the ultimate goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a time-bound framework. Indeed, that was the position of a majority of Member States.

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