CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT CONCLUDES SECOND PART OF 1999 SESSION

Press Release
DCF/373

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT CONCLUDES SECOND PART OF 1999 SESSION

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 24 June (UN Information Service) -- The Conference on Disarmament today concluded the second part of its 1999 session and heard a statement from its incoming President, Ambassador Guillermo Gonzalez of Argentina, in which he summed up the status of consultations to reach a consensus on the Conference's programme of work. Mr. Gonzalez saluted the efforts of his predecessor, Ambassador Mohamed- Salah Dembri of Algeria, saying that the Conference now had before it proposals which covered every aspect of the agenda. He noted that the political will of Member States was the only way to enable the Conference to reach any decisions. Concessions had to come from all parties so that a balanced solution was reached. The programme of work of the Conference could not be imposed, and an agenda adopted without conviction would be very difficult to implement successfully.

Mr. Gonzalez said that adopting a balanced programme of work would send a message of encouragement to the outside world. He hoped that the recess would provide a pause for thought and allow the parties which were most directly involved to evaluate the situation and maintain contacts among themselves. At the same time, the office of the President of the Conference would do everything it could to press forward with such a dialogue.

The representative of Germany said the ideas proposed by Ambassador Dembri had brought the Conference very close to success. He fully agreed that the Conference had moved closer to a consensus and that it was important to maintain this momentum. He encouraged the new President to continue work along these lines because Germany believed that on the basis of these proposals, possibly with minor modifications, the Conference should be able to adopt its programme of work. Also this morning, the Conference heard statements by Ecuador, India, United Kingdom and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Republic of Korea and the United States responded to the address by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea said the situation in the Korean peninsula was of great concern. Last week, the United States had used an incident in the Korean peninsula to mass a large fleet in the region. The United States also planned to reinforce the arsenal of its troops in the Republic of Korea. These military movements were a tremendous threat to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea because these irresponsible acts could be followed by further attacks on other parts of the world. His country was ready to see that anyone touching its territory would pay a very high price.

The representative of Ecuador praised progress achieved in the fight to eliminate anti-personnel landmines. This was of particular significance to his country. When Ecuador had signed a peace agreement with Peru, the two States had agreed to remove and destroy all landmines on their border. He was sure the international community would cooperate in this demining programme.

The representative of India said the current impasse in the Conference was related to the inflexible positions of a few delegations which had prevented agreement being reached on the two outstanding issues: nuclear disarmament and prevention of an arms race in outer space. The Conference was not an island and could not pretend to be one. It acted as a mirror of the prevailing international security situation, reflecting its trends, both positive and negative. At the same time, the quest for a unilateral security advantage for a few States was contrary to the spirit that could sustain the negotiation and completion of credible disarmament instruments by this Conference.

The representative of the United Kingdom noted that earlier this year, his country had published its first Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. The publication of this report marked a change in the level of transparency about the United Kingdom's export licensing policy which had never before been disclosed in such detail. He invited members of the Conference to, where appropriate, publish detailed reports on their own exports of arms and military equipment.

The third and last part of the 1999 session will be held from 29 July to 8 September.

Statements

GUILLERMO GONZALEZ (Argentina), the incoming President of the Conference, said it was an honour and responsibility for him and his country to be able to preside over the work of the only international forum delegated to negotiate disarmament issues. He highlighted the work of the former presidents of the Conference, especially his immediate predecessor, Ambassador Mohamed-Salah Dembri of Algeria. The Conference paid tribute to those who had made such efforts to prevail over the difficulties. The Conference now had before it

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proposals which covered every aspect of the agenda. Consultations carried out by his predecessors had enabled him to come to the job with a fair idea of the positions of the delegations.

Mr. Gonzalez said he had started consultations this week, taking up at the point where Ambassador Dembri had left off. It had to be remembered that the political will of Member States was the only way to enable the Conference to reach any decisions. Concessions had to come from all parties so that a balanced solution was reached. The programme of work of the Conference could not be imposed, and an agenda adopted without conviction would be very difficult to implement successfully. The issue of the enlargement of the Conference was still pending, and he would make every effort to reach consensus on that matter as well.

The Conference on Disarmament was a body where external events had considerable influence on its work, Mr. Gonzalez went on to state. At the same time, what happened within the Conference sent a clear signal to the outside world. Adopting a balanced programme of work would send a message of encouragement to the outside world. Two thirds of the 1999 session of the Conference was almost completed. He hoped that the recess would provide a pause for thought and allow the parties which were most directly involved to evaluate the situation and maintain contacts among themselves. The Conference really needed more interaction and activity. At the same time, the office of the President of the Conference would do everything it could to press forward with such a dialogue.

LUIS GALLEGOS CHIRIBOGA (Ecuador) noted that this was the last session of the Conference to be held this century which carried a symbolic significance. Peoples around the world and without distinction sought peace and the elimination of most kinds of weapons, especially weapons of mass destruction. There had been many developments this century, but also many bloody events. It was a sad reality that there were still factors which gave rise to conflict, and that there were still huge arsenals waiting to be used. The inability of the Conference to reach consensus on its programme of work reflected the insecurity still prevailing in the world. Despite the end of the cold war, the world was still caught up in conflicts because of this insecurity, and this had to be overcome.

Mr. Chiriboga said Ecuador joined the voice of the international community on the relevance which should be accorded to nuclear disarmament. Ecuador applauded bilateral and other efforts in this regard. Bilateral and multilateral efforts to promote nuclear disarmament should be complementary and should have an ongoing nature. As for a treaty on fissile material, Ecuador believed there was a basis for a consensus within the Conference which could lead it to negotiate such a treaty which would be a good contribution.

Negative security assurances should be universalized, although Ecuador did not believe they could replace a multilateral instrument for compliance. As for

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the issue of anti-personnel landmines, Mr. Chiriboga said his country had signed and ratified the Ottawa Convention. He praised progress achieved in the fight to eliminate anti-personnel landmines. This was of particular significance to his country because when Ecuador had signed a peace agreement with Peru, the two States had agreed to remove and destroy all landmines on their border. He was sure the international community would cooperate in this demining programme.

Mr. Chiriboga said the trafficking and sales of illicit small weapons had aggravated the security situation around the world. Ecuador believed it was important to study how the Conference could provide technical resources to deal with this illicit movement. Moving on to the issue of prevention of an arms race in outer space, his country was confident that there were positive elements which would facilitate the necessary consensus on this subject. As for the issue of the expansion of the Conference, Ecuador hoped that it would be approved along with the adoption of a programme of work for the Conference. The Conference also had to agree on a Special Coordinator on its future expansion.

SAVITRI KUNADI (India) said her country was deeply disappointed at the continued inability of the Conference to get down to substantive negotiations through the adoption of its programme of work. India had supported the proposal submitted by the Group of 21 on a programme of work contained in CD/1570. It also took note of the proposal contained in CD/1566 submitted by the Ambassador of the United States when he was the President of the Conference. Between these two proposals for the programme of work, there were common elements on the table which were not opposed from any delegation. They related to the establishment of Ad Hoc Committees on fissile material and negative security assurances and the re-appointment of Special Coordinators on the review of the agenda, expansion of membership of the Conference and the improved and effective functioning of the body. The two outstanding issues had been nuclear disarmament and outer space, and the situation remained the same.

Ms. Kunadi said India shared the wide spread sentiment in the Conference that it was important to preserve these common elements while at the same time exploring ways and means of intensifying consultations on elements which still eluded it. India had taken careful note of the proposals made this year on nuclear disarmament, and noted the widespread desire among the various groups in the Conference to see some forward movement. It remained willing to consider, as a measure of flexibility, all proposals made by delegations with the aim of carrying forward work on the substantive aspects of the agenda item.

In conclusion, Ms. Kunadi said the current impasse in the Conference was related to the inflexible positions of a few delegations that had prevented agreement being reached on the two outstanding issues: nuclear disarmament and outer space. The Conference was not an island and could not pretend to be one. It acted as a mirror of the prevailing international security situation, reflecting its trends, both positive and negative. Nuclear dangers, including

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through accidental or unauthorized use of nuclear weapons, had only increased. The success of negotiations in the Conference depended to a large measure on the common recognition by delegations that the disarmament measures they negotiated were global and non-discriminatory and would, therefore, enhance their security. The quest for a unilateral security advantage for a few States was contrary to the spirit that could sustain the negotiation and completion of credible disarmament instruments by this Conference.

IAN SOUTAR (United Kingdom) said that earlier this year, his country had published its first Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. The United Kingdom wished to draw the attention of members of the Conference to the report. Its publication marked a change in the level of transparency about the United Kingdom's export licensing policy which had never before been disclosed in such detail.

Mr. Soutar said a key development in relation to inter-State transparency was the adoption in June 1998, during the United Kingdom's Presidency of the European Union, of the European Union Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. Another important forum for inter-State transparency was the Wassenaar Arrangement for Export Controls on Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Good and Technologies.

In conclusion, Mr. Soutar said his country invited members of the Conference to take note of these developments and, where appropriate, to publish detailed reports on their own exports of arms and military equipment. They should also participate in the United Nations Arms Register and work for an increase in the number of countries providing information, as well as broadening the information exchanged. Another step would be for these Members to subscribe to the principles of the European Union Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and to consider the scope for similar arrangements in other regions.

RI TCHEUL (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said he wished to touch on some matters relating to nuclear disarmament, as well as to the prevention of an arms race in outer space, two issues which had not been resolved despite the endeavours of many Member States. As Coordinator of the Group of 21, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's delegation had had an opportunity to thoroughly consult with other delegations on the issue of nuclear disarmament. All the group's Member States recognized that nuclear disarmament was a universal concern. All Member States had the lawful right to discuss this matter without restrictions of any kind because nuclear weapons were a common threat. The potential threat of nuclear weapons had become even more imminent because of the concept that they must be enhanced and improved and could be used to settle political issues like ethnic conflicts. This idea that nuclear weapons could be used to protect military alliances was a declaration of nuclear proliferation.

Mr. Ri said that the issue of nuclear disarmament could not be left in the hands of one or two nuclear Powers. Without the complete elimination of

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nuclear weapons, the arbitrator would always be the victim of power politics. The use of nuclear weapons and the air campaign carried out against the former Yugoslavia showed that no person was safe from such interference. This affected the situation in the Korean peninsula and was of great concern. Last week, the United States used an incident in the Korean peninsula to mass a large fleet in the region. The United States also planned to reinforce its arsenal in the Republic of Korea. These military movements were a tremendous threat to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea because such irresponsible acts could be followed by further attacks on other parts of the world.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was ready to see that anyone touching its territory would pay a very high price, Mr. Ri said. His country supported the creation of an ad hoc committee to create a non-nuclear weapon world. As for the issue of space weapons, prevention was better than a cure. At the time when the world was arduously striving to eliminate nuclear weapons, it had to face another danger with the emergence of this other sickness. If space weapons were developed and deployed, then there would be a new kind of arms race. Flames would be fed and the nuclear menace would be heightened. The emergence of a defence programme which used anti-ballistic missiles was an even more obvious threat as a space weapon. The country with the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, and another country which was the victim of the first nuclear bomb, were jointly encouraging this because this defence programme was not offensive. Rather, it was simply aimed at maintaining military superiority.

In conclusion, Mr. Ri said all attempts to arm outer space and to develop an anti-ballistic missile system must be stopped. As for how the Conference should tackle this issue, then an ad hoc committee on the prohibition of deployment of weapons in outer space was the only solution likely to gain a consensus.

The representative of Germany said the ideas proposed by Ambassador Dembri of Algeria had brought the Conference very close to success. He fully agreed that the Conference had moved closer to a consensus and that it was important to maintain this momentum. The new President was encouraged to continue work along these lines because Germany believed that on the basis of these proposals, possibly with minor modifications, the Conference should be able to adopt its programme of work. However, if the decision was taken, this would only leave a few weeks of work for the Conference. And if the dismal precedent of this year was repeated and the decisions taken were only valid for a few weeks, then the Conference would be seriously damaged. Finally, Germany believed that the limited expansion of the Conference was long overdue and it hoped that the President would be able to achieve agreement on this issue.

The representative of the Republic of Korea said he had not planned on taking the floor, but after listening to the representative of the Democratic

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People's Republic of Korea speaking of an act of provocation off the coast of the Korean peninsula, he was forced to respond in order to stop the Conference from being misled. The Conference was not the relevant forum to discuss this issue. The Republic of Korea had asked the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to sit down with it and to participate in a dialogue in order to reach a solution. As for the incident of last week, the intrusions by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had been continuing for 10 days, and it had been warned to stop them. The Government was determined to continue its policy with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and it would firmly stop any threat to the Korean peninsula.

The representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea said he had no intention of spoiling this meeting which should discuss only disarmament issues. What he had said earlier was true, and he would not respond to his Korean colleagues.

The representative of the United States said he had not planned to speak. He wished to associate himself with the remarks made by his Korean ally.

Mr. GONZALEZ, the President of the Conference, said this concluded the business of the day, as well as the second part of the 1999 session of the Conference. The next plenary of the Conference would convene at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 29 July. During the intersessional period, he would endeavour to keep up the momentum and would try to make the maximum progress possible in the work of the Conference.

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