CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT BEGINS SECOND PART OF 1999 SESSION
Press Release
DCF/367
CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT BEGINS SECOND PART OF 1999 SESSION
19990511 Delegations of Russian Federation, China, Pakistan, Kenya And India Address NATO Bombing of Chinese Embassy in BelgradeGENEVA, 11 May (UN Information Service) -- The Conference on Disarmament this morning began the second part of its 1999 session, and at the invitation of its President, observed a minute of silence for the victims of the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The President of the Conference, Ambassador Nguyen Quy Binh of Viet Nam, expressed the sympathy and condolences of the Conference to the delegation and Government of China. The representatives of the Russian Federation, Pakistan, Kenya and India also offered their condolences to China.
The representative of China said it was with deep sadness and anger that the Chinese delegation thanked the President for proposing a minute of silence and for expressing the Conference's condolences for the victims of the missile attack on the Chinese embassy in Belgrade four days ago. The bombing of the Chinese embassy was an extremely grave event. He said the United States-led NATO must make convincing clarifications and explanations for this and must bear all political, legal and financial responsibilities arising therefrom.
The representative of the Russian Federation strongly condemned NATO action against the sovereign Federal Republic of Yugoslavia which continued to cause casualties among the civilian population, to aggravate the humanitarian crisis in the region and to undermine the post-Second World War system of international relations. He said the Russian Federation called for the immediate cessation of the NATO military action against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and for the political settlement of the Kosovo problem.
The representatives of China, Russian Federation and Pakistan addressed the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, saying that any revision would have a negative effect on global stability and would trigger a new round of the arms race.
At the end of the meeting, the President of the Conference noted that the body had ended the first part of its 1999 session in March without succeeding in reaching agreement on a programme of work. The two issues that
were pending were an appropriate mechanism for dealing with nuclear disarmament and prevention of an arms race in outer space. Despite extensive consultations on the various proposals on the table, no agreement had been reached. He would continue to hold consultations in his remaining period as President with the view of developing a consensus to allow the Conference to start its substantive work as soon as possible.
The Conference held the first part of its 1999 session from 19 January to 26 March. This second part continues until 25 June. The third part will be held from 26 July to 8 September.
The Conference on Disarmament will hold its next plenary at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 20 May.
Statements
VASILY SIDOROV (Russian Federation) drew the attention of the Conference to the joint Russian-Chinese press release on consultations on issues pertaining to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM), held in Moscow on 14 April. The text of the release was issued as an official document of the Conference, CD/1584 on 29 April 1999. Although the ABM Treaty had a narrow range of participants, it was hard to overestimate its tremendous significance as a factor of strategic stability and international security.
Mr. Sidorov noted that implementation of existing plans for deployment of national anti-missile defence systems would constitute a violation of fundamental obligations under the ABM Treaty and would lead to the actual abolition of the Treaty. Such a development would inevitably upset the whole system of international treaties in the disarmament field. It could trigger a new round of the strategic arms race including in outer space, and undermine the existing non-proliferation regime. The Russian Federation believed that common efforts would enable all to prevent the alarming situation developing around the Treaty and would keep it from collapsing.
Mr. Sidorov expressed his country's deep condolences to the delegation of China in connection with the tragic death of Chinese diplomats in Belgrade as a result of barbaric bombings by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Russian Federation strongly condemned NATO action against the sovereign Federal Republic of Yugoslavia which continued to cause casualties among the civilian population, to aggravate the humanitarian crisis in this region and to undermine the post-Second World War system of international relations. The Russian Federation called for the immediate cessation of the NATO military action against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and for the political settlement of the Kosovo problem. To achieve this goal, the search for common constructive decisions was required.
LI CHANGHE (China) said that it was with deep sadness and anger that the Chinese delegation thanked the President for proposing a minute of silence and
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expressing the Conference's condolences for the victims of the missile attack on the Chinese embassy in Belgrade four days ago.
Mr. Li said that the Conference had started its session this year in a very unfavourable environment and a series of developments had cast a deep shadow over its work. Shortly after the first part of the session started, a certain country had announced its plan to speed up its work on the National Missile Defence and the Theatre Missile Defence systems and had demanded a revision of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM). This decision would have a profound negative influence on global and regional strategic balance and stability and would trigger a new round of the arms race to the detriment of the international disarmament process. Then, three days before the end of the first part of the session, the aerial bombardment of the sovereign State of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had began. Up to now, there had been 48 days of indiscriminate bombing, causing large-scale civilian casualties and hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing their homes. Third, the Chinese embassy in Belgrade had been attacked by missiles last weekend, killing three people and wounding more than 20. All of this further worsened the situation in the region and widened the Kosovo crisis.
Mr. Li said his Government had issued a statement, stating that the United States-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization should bear all responsibilities arising from the bombing and the Chinese Government reserved the right to take further actions on the matter. He said the bombing of the Chinese embassy was an extremely grave event. The United States-led NATO must make convincing clarifications and explanations for this and must bear all political, legal and financial responsibilities arising therefrom. The Chinese Government and people upheld justice and love peace, but they would not tolerate any bullying and aggression, nor did they fear any threat and pressure.
Mr. Li recalled that Chinese President Jiang Zemin had addressed the Conference on the last day of the first part of this year's session. He had pointed out that the old security concept based on military alliances and build-up of armaments would not help ensure global security. This required the cultivation of a new security concept. The establishment of a new concept of security and a new just and fair international order was the only way to fundamentally promote a healthy development of the disarmament process and guarantee international peace and security.
MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) said he shared the concerns expressed by the delegations of China and the Russian Federation over certain developments which would have far-reaching results for international security. Over the past few years, Pakistan had repeatedly expressed serious concerns that the nuclear threat was increasing in the post Cold War era. This was because some of the nuclear-weapon States sought to create new and questionable justifications to retain indefinitely their nuclear weapons. The threat of other weapons of mass destruction was being exaggerated to negate the security
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assurances which had been offered by the nuclear-weapon States. This new strategic concept of a military alliance would set back endeavours to promote disarmament and non-proliferation.
Mr. Akram said plans to deploy national and theatre defence missiles and moves to change the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty could lead to serious destabilization and could have serious results for regions like southeast Asia. Pakistan hoped that the Conference on Disarmament could study this issue and take expeditious action to arrest it.
In conclusion, Mr. Akram said the spokesperson of the Foreign Office of Pakistan had expressed sympathy to the people and Government of China for the loss of life and the damages following the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. The delegation of Pakistan was anguished and conveyed its heartfelt condolences and sympathies, and hoped the Conference would do so in appropriate terms. Pakistan had repeatedly emphasized the need for a just and early solution to the crisis in Kosovo. The Security Council should play an effective role in the resolution of the crisis.
KIPKORIR ALY AZAD RANA (Kenya) said the parties in the Kosovo crisis had first been seeking a peaceful solution in Rambouillet and his country had considered this the appropriate way to end the crisis in Kosovo. Kenya had been very disappointed when a different and violent approach was adopted. This use of force had led to an escalation of the conflict and could represent a formidable threat to international peace.
Mr. Rana said unfortunately it was innocent civilians who bore the brunt of the fighting. Hundreds had been hit directly or indirectly and had been killed in the fighting and more would suffer if the military strikes continued unabated. The recent bombing of the Chinese Embassy in which three Chinese nationals died demonstrated the danger of the continuation of this bombardment which could further escalate the conflict through such accidents. Kenya expressed its condolences to China and all other nationalities who had suffered casualties in the crisis. Kenya had always advocated a peaceful solution to conflicts and this was the best way of seeking a lasting solution. The President of Kenya had also issued a statement on the situation in which he urged that diplomacy and negotiations should be given a chance to address the causes of the crisis.
The representative of India said her country had on several occasions expressed its position on the events and developments in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. She would like to join other delegations in expressing her country's sympathy and condolences to the delegation of China.
Mr. LI (China) sincerely thanked the distinguished Ambassadors who had expressed their sympathy to the families of the victims of the Chinese embassy bombing in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He also thanked other delegations who had expressed their condolences to him in various ways. He would transmit all these sentiments to the people and Government of China and to the families of the victims.
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