CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT TO OPEN 1999 SESSION ON 19 JANUARY
Press Release
DCF/351
CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT TO OPEN 1999 SESSION ON 19 JANUARY
19990112 Background ReleaseGENEVA, 12 January (UN Information Service) -- The Conference on Disarmament, the world's sole multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations, will open its 1999 session on 19 January at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The 1999 session will open under the presidency of Ambassador Robert T. Grey of the United States. The presidency of the Conference rotates amongst its member States according to the English alphabetical order for four-week periods. During the first part of the session, which will continue until 26 March, the presidency will also be held by Venezuela and Viet Nam. The second part will take place from 10 May to 25 June, and the third part from 26 July to 8 September.
In accordance with its rules of procedure, the Conference "shall adopt its agenda for the year at the beginning of the session. In doing so, the Conference shall take into account the recommendations made to it by the United Nations General Assembly, the proposals by its Members, and decisions of the Conference".
At its fifty-third session, the General Assembly adopted 48 resolutions and one decision concerning disarmament and international security. Among other issues, it reaffirmed the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum. The Assembly welcomed the decisions of the Conference to establish two Ad Hoc Committees: an Ad Hoc Committee under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", and an Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons.
Questions Considered by 1998 Disarmament Conference Session
The agenda for the 1998 Conference covered questions related to the cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament; prevention of nuclear war; prevention of an arms race in outer space; effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use
of nuclear weapons; new types of weapons of mass destruction and radiological weapons; comprehensive programme of disarmament, in particular, anti-personnel landmines, and transparency in armaments.
During its 1998 session, the Conference established two subsidiary bodies: an Ad Hoc Committee under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", and an Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons. The Conference also appointed three Special Coordinators on anti-personnel landmines, prevention of an arms race in outer space, and transparency in armaments, respectively. Three other Special Coordinators were appointed to consider the improved and effective functioning of the Conference, review of its agenda and expansion of its membership.
Cessation of Nuclear Arms Race and Nuclear Disarmament
Nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, covered under item 1 of the agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", were among the most debated issues in the Conference. The rotating presidency of the Conference continued, throughout the session, to pursue intensive consultations and to seek the views of the member States on appropriate methods and approaches for dealing with agenda item 1, taking into consideration all proposals and views in this respect. Successive Presidents presented to the Conference progress reports on these consultations. These reports indicated that, although the consultations were wide-ranging and substantive, they were inconclusive, and that further consultations in this regard would be required. The President of the Conference, Ambassador Ian Soutar (United Kingdom), at the closure of the 1998 session, accordingly recommended that these intensive consultations should resume at the start of the 1999 session.
It was towards the end of its annual session that the Conference decided, on 11 August 1998, to establish 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, internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. In this connection, the then President of the Conference, Ambassador Mykola Maimeskul (Ukraine), stated that this decision was without prejudice to any further decisions on the establishment of further subsidiary bodies under agenda item 1, and that the presidency would continue to pursue intensive consultations and to seek the views of the members of the Conference on appropriate methods and approaches for dealing with this agenda item. Ambassador Mark Moher (Canada) was appointed as Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee. During the two meetings that the Committee held, delegations had a general exchange of views, as a first step in the substantive negotiations. The report contains the recommendation that the Ad Hoc Committee be re-established at the beginning of the 1999 session.
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Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons were essential to removing the danger of nuclear war, the General Assembly in its 1998 session called for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in that context, for immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons. The Assembly called upon the nuclear- weapon States to demonstrate an unequivocal commitment to the speedy and total elimination of their nuclear weapons, according to a resolution entitled "towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: the need for a new agenda". In that resolution, the Assembly called upon States to adhere, unconditionally and without delay, to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
In another call on nuclear-weapon States, the General Assembly urged them to stop immediately the qualitative improvement of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems and, as interim measures, to immediately de-alert and deactivate their nuclear weapons. The Assembly also called upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, confirming and strengthening their policies not to export equipment, materials or technology that could contribute to those weapons.
Under the terms of another nuclear-related resolution, the Assembly reiterated its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on an international convention prohibiting the use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. In the resolution, the Assembly stressed that an international convention banning the use of nuclear weapons was an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, within a specified time framework.
The Assembly welcomed the decision of the Conference on Disarmament to negotiate a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. The Assembly also called upon Member States to promote, at multilateral levels, the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security and urged the international community to devote part of the resources gained from disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development.
Negative Security Assurances
On 26 March 1998, the Conference established an Ad Hoc Committee on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons (negative security assurances) and, on 14 May 1998, appointed Ambassador Antonio de Icaza (Mexico) as its Chairman. In its report, the Ad Hoc Committee, among other things, reaffirmed that, pending the complete and effective elimination of nuclear weapons, non-nuclear-weapon States should be effectively assured by the nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; it also noted the relationship between the question of negative and positive security assurances. The report also contains the recommendation to the
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Conference to re-establish the Ad Hoc Committee at the beginning of the 1999 session. A summary of views and national positions expressed in the Ad Hoc Committee is annexed to the report.
The General Assembly, in a resolution, appealed to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards a legally binding international instrument on security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.
Prevention of Arms Race in Outer Space
Ambassador H.M.G.S. Palihakkara (Sri Lanka) presented his final report as Special Coordinator on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, saying there continued to be the general recognition that this agenda item was one of importance and urgency, and delegations showed readiness to contribute towards the common objective in a constructive spirit. Consultations also revealed that there was no objection in principle to the re-establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee under this agenda item, however, it was evident that further consultations would be needed as to when that decision could be taken. Ambassador Palihakkara said he had presented a draft mandate for the Ad Hoc Committee on this item in open-ended consultations. There was a wide measure of support for the draft text and the approaches contained therein, although a complete consensus thereon would require further consultations. He recommended that this text be used as a basis for further consultations with a view to taking a decision on the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee under this agenda item. He also recommended that the Conference take a decision to continue consultations for this purpose in 1999.
The General Assembly adopted a resolution calling upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the peaceful use of outer space and to the prevention of an outer space arms race. It also reiterated the primary role of the Conference on Disarmament in negotiating a multilateral agreement or agreements on the prevention of an outer space arms race, and urged States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to inform the Conference of the progress of bilateral or multilateral negotiations on the matter, so as to facilitate its work. The Conference was invited to re-establish the relevant Ad Hoc Committee during its 1999 session.
Anti-Personnel Landmines
The Special Coordinator on Anti-Personnel Landmines, Ambassador John Campbell (Australia), said in his final report to the Conference that although China, the Eastern Group and the Western Group had reached a consensus in support of the draft mandate he had proposed in June 1998, the Group of 21 still required further time to consider the proposals. However, he was confident that, with some further work, the Conference would be able to reach
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a resolution of the issue. Accordingly, he believed the Conference should reappoint a Special Coordinator on Anti-Personnel Landmines next year to conclude the work by achieving the consensus necessary for the Conference to take an early decision to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to negotiate a ban on transfers of anti-personnel landmines.
The General Assembly urgently called upon all States to become parties, as soon as possible, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively Injurious or To Have Indiscriminate Effects (Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons) and its Protocols, particularly to the Amended Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II). It also invited all States that had not yet done so to adhere to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti- Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention) and urged all States that had not yet done so to ratify it without delay, subsequent to their signature.
Transparency in Armaments
The Special Coordinator on Transparency in Armaments, Pavel Grecu (Romania), referred in his final report to three main aspects, namely: the merits of transparency in armaments, the scope of activity on transparency in armaments, and possible ways of dealing with transparency in armaments within the Conference on Disarmament. He concluded by saying that the common endeavours on transparency in armaments had brought the Conference closer to a consensus. His progress report illustrated the need for continuation, next year, of the work resumed at this session by appointing a Special Coordinator.
The General Assembly called on Member States to provide the Secretary- General annually the requested data for the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, and invited them, pending the Register's further development, to provide additional information on procurement from national production and military holdings. It invited the Conference on Disarmament to continue its work in the field of transparency in armaments, and urged Member States to submit their views to the Secretary-General on, among other things, the elaboration of the practical means for the further development of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms in order to increase transparency related to weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons.
The Assembly decided to give urgent consideration to conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels and requested the Conference on Disarmament, as a first step, to consider the formulation of principles that could serve as a framework for regional conventional arms control agreements.
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Issues Regarding Conference's Organization of Work
Ambassador Javier Illanes (Chile), the Special Coordinator on Improved and Effective Functioning of the Conference, noted in his final report that given the short time available, he gave priority to consult on certain new ideas and proposals to improve and streamline practices and measures to facilitate functioning of the Conference. There remained differences and doubts which prevented a consensus at this stage, and lack of time did not allow for further exploration of these and other ideas which might be useful. It was worthwhile to note there was a wide convergence of views on the usefulness of informal presidential consultations as a way of advancing the work of the Conference. He recommended that the Conference continue at its next session pursuing the study of its improved and effective functioning.
Concerning the review of the agenda, the Special Coordinator on this issue, Ambassador Peter Naray (Hungary), said in his final report that since basic positions on the agenda, despite increased flexibility of many delegations, were not sufficiently close to embark on an exercise to combine approaches, he was not in a position to make an attempt to propose a new future agenda for the Conference. Instead, he suggested concentrating on possible amendments, additions and updates within the framework of the present agenda. The Special Coordinator concluded by saying that, while he was not in a position to make specific recommendations on the substance of the review of the agenda, he had the impression that delegations were interested and willing to take up this issue in 1999. He recommended the Conference continue consultations on the review of the agenda during the next session by appointing a special coordinator on this issue at the start of the 1999 session.
The Special Coordinator on the Expansion of Membership, Ambassador Erwin Hofer (Switzerland), said his work had resulted in several options. One option could be described as "qualified universality", meaning that all State Members of the United Nations and specialized agencies had the right to apply for membership to the Conference. This had received broad support. Other States had supported another option, which constituted admitting the great majority of States which had asked to join the Conference. Others still wanted a combination of the two options. On the basis of these positions, the Special Coordinator drew the provisional and welcome conclusion that there was a consensus on the principle of future expansion, but differences remained on timing, scope, ways and means of such expansion. The two options were not ripe for the Conference to take a position on, and therefore, the Conference would have to look at them again in 1999.
Ambassador Hofer said he also noted an outline of a potential consensus that the Conference could be expanded by the limited number of five States and he had finally arrived to the conclusion that it was possible to form a consensus for such an expansion. This would allow accession to the Conference
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by one State from each of the following regions: Western Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Africa, Asia and Latin America. There had been a possibility to take the decision to admit Ecuador, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Tunisia to the Conference. However, the President of the Conference had informed him that, while the forum was close to a consensus, it was not in a position to take an operational decision on this. Therefore, Ambassador Hofer recommended that the Conference appoint a Special Coordinator to continue informal consultations on this issue next year.
The General Assembly encouraged the Conference to intensify its consultations on the review of its membership, with a view to reaching an early agreement on its further expansion.
Conference on Disarmament
The Conference, which works on the basis of consensus, emerged from the decisions of the 1978 special session of the General Assembly on disarmament. Membership stands at 61, following the implementation of a decision to admit 23 additional members on 17 June 1996.
The annual sessions of the Conference are divided into three parts. The Secretary-General of the Conference is Vladimir Petrovsky, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, who is also the Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General.
Member States of Conference
The following 61 States are members of the Conference: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe.
In addition, the following 25 States have applied for membership (in chronological order): Ireland, Tunisia, Ecuador, Greece, Croatia, Kuwait, Portugal, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Denmark, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Ghana, Luxembourg, Uruguay, Philippines, Azerbaijan, Libya, Armenia, Thailand and Georgia.
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The representatives of the following non-member States also participated in the work of the Conference in 1998 as observers: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei Darussalam, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Holy See, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Yemen and Zambia.
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