GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOULD CALL FOR STEPS TO PREVENT OUTER SPACE ARMS RACE, IN ONE OF SIX RESOLUTIONS APPROVED BY DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE
Press Release
GA/DIS/3157
GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOULD CALL FOR STEPS TO PREVENT OUTER SPACE ARMS RACE, IN ONE OF SIX RESOLUTIONS APPROVED BY DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE
19991101Other Texts Concern Security Assurances, Nuclear Waste, Chemical Weapons, Latin America, New Weapons of Mass Destruction
The General Assembly would call upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective, according to one of six draft resolutions approved this morning by the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), as it began taking action on all disarmament- and security-related draft texts.
The text was approved by a recorded vote of 138 in favour to none against, with 2 abstentions (Israel, United States). (For details of the vote, see Annex II.)
Speaking in explanation of vote, the representative of the United States said, like last year, his delegation had abstained. There had been unprecedented peaceful cooperation in outer space, which would likely continue, and it was almost incontestable that there was no arms race in outer space. Moreover, military uses of outer space, including treaty monitoring and refugee tracking, had enhanced international peace and security.
Under the terms of a nuclear-weapon-related text on security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, approved by a recorded vote of 77 in favour to none against, with 50 abstentions, the Assembly would appeal to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach, and in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding nature. (See Annex I.)
According to a nuclear disarmament text approved without a vote, on the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco), the Assembly would urge the countries of the region to ratify the amendments to the Treaty approved by the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean. It would welcome the concrete steps taken by some countries of the region during the past year for the consolidation of the regime of military denuclearization established by the Treaty.
First Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/DIS/3157 20th Meeting (AM) 1 November 1999
The Assembly would reaffirm that effective measures should be taken to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction, by the terms of another text approved without a vote today. The Assembly would request the Conference on Disarmament to keep the matter under review, with a view to making, when necessary, recommendations on undertaking specific negotiations on identified types of such weapons.
Under a text approved without a vote on the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (Chemical Weapons Convention), the Assembly would urge all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in its implementation activities.
Another draft resolution approved without a vote would have the Assembly express grave concern regarding any use of nuclear wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and have grave implications for the national security of all States, and call upon them to take appropriate measures to prevent any dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States.
Statements on the drafts were made by the representatives of the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom (also on behalf of Germany), France and Israel.
The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue taking action on all disarmament- and security-related draft resolutions.
Committee Work Programme
The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this morning to begin taking action on disarmament- and security-related draft resolutions. It had before it two drafts on nuclear weapons, three on other weapons of mass destruction, and one on the disarmament aspects of outer space.
Under a draft resolution sponsored by Burkina Faso on behalf of the Group of African States, on the dumping of radioactive waste (document A/C.1/54/L.6), the Assembly would express grave concern regarding any use of nuclear wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and have grave implications for the national security of all States, and call upon them to take appropriate measures to prevent any dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States.
By further terms, the Assembly would request the Conference on Disarmament to take into account, in the negotiations for a convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons, radioactive wastes as part of the scope of such a convention. It would also request the Conference to intensify efforts towards an early conclusion of such a convention and to include in its report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session the progress recorded in the negotiations on the subject.
According to a draft text sponsored by Canada and Poland on the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (Chemical Weapons Convention) (document A/C.1/54/L.11), the Assembly would urge all States parties to the Convention to meet, in full and on time, their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in its implementation activities.
According to a draft resolution on the prevention of an arms race in outer space (document A/C.1/54/L.22), the General Assembly would call upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties.
Reiterating that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, had the primary role in negotiating a multilateral agreement, as appropriate, on the prevention of an outer space arms race in all its aspects, the Assembly would urge States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter. It would invite the Conference to complete examination and updating of the mandate contained in its decision of 13 February 1992 and establish an ad hoc committee at the earliest, during its 2000 session.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Cuba, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Egypt, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka and the Sudan. By the terms of a draft resolution on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) (document A/C.1/54/L.24), the Assembly would urge the countries of the region that had not yet done so to ratify the amendments to the Treaty approved by the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, in its resolutions of 3 July 1990, 10 May 1991, and 26 August 1992. The Assembly would welcome the concrete steps taken by some countries of the region during the past year for the consolidation of the regime of military denuclearization established by the Treaty.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
By the terms of a draft resolution on the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems (document A/C.1/54/L.26), the Assembly would reaffirm that effective measures should be taken to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction. The Assembly would request the Conference on Disarmament to keep the matter under review, with a view to making, when necessary, recommendations on undertaking specific negotiations on identified types of such weapons.
In that context, the Assembly would call upon all States, immediately following any recommendations of the Conference on Disarmament, to give favourable consideration to those recommendations. It would request the Secretary-General to transmit to the Conference all documents relating to the consideration of the item by the Assembly at its current session, and it would request the Conference to report the results of any consideration of the matter in its annual report.
The text is sponsored by Armenia, Belarus, Chile, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Viet Nam.
A draft resolution on assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States (document A/C.1/54/L.36) would have the Assembly appeal to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character. It would recommend that further intensive efforts should be devoted to the search for a common approach or common formula and that the various alternative approaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Conference on Disarmament, should be further explored in order to overcome the difficulties.
The Assembly would also recommend that the Conference should actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international arrangements to assure the non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective.
The draft resolution is sponsored by Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam.
Action on Texts
The Committee approved the resolution on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) (document A/C.1/54/L.24) without a vote.
The representative of Saudi Arabia said his delegation wished to join the co-sponsors.
The Committee Secretary announced that Myanmar had joined the co-sponsors of the resolution.
The draft resolution on the conclusion of international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against use or the threat of use of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/54/L.36) was approved by a vote of 77 in favour to none against, with 50 abstentions. (For details of the vote, see Annex I.)
The representative of the Republic of Korea, speaking in explanation of vote on assurance to non-nuclear-weapon States, said the primary issues regarding negative security issues had centred on who should receive them and in what form they should be given. With respect to the first, non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), who had fully complied with their obligations under the Treaty, had a legitimate right to receive such assurances from nuclear-weapon States. The nuclear-weapon States had a corresponding obligation to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Those mutual responsibilities would strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime. His delegation had abstained in the vote because the text had not adequately reflected its concerns over the values of bilateral and mutlilateral legally binding instruments.
The representative of India, speaking in explanation of vote on the same text, said her country had consistently maintained that the only credible guarantees lay in the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Until that objective was achieved, and despite such interim measures as de-alerting nuclear weapons to reduce nuclear dangers, the nuclear-weapon States were obliged to provide assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States against the use of those weapons. That obligation should be contained in an international instrument of a binding character, which was clear, credible, universal and non-discriminatory. No delegation had been opposed to the establishment of an ad hoc committee on negative security assurances in the Conference on Disarmament, which would be an essential element in any comprehensive, balanced programme of work.
She added that, conscious of its responsibility as a nuclear-weapon State, her Government had stated it would not be first to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States and would strengthen that undertaking by entering into bilateral agreements on no first-use, or multilateral arrangements on a global no first-use. She respected the choice of non-nuclear-weapon States to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned.
Also on negative security assurances, the representative of Australia said, pending the elimination of nuclear weapons consistent with article VI of the NPT, negative security assurances were an essential reinforcing element underpinning the non-proliferation and disarmament regime. Those non-nuclear- weapon States parties to the NPT, which had renounced the nuclear option and were in full compliance with their NPT obligations, had a legitimate claim to credible, comprehensive, and effective negative-security assurances from the five nuclear-weapon States. Such assurances were also an important inducement for States still outside the NPT to accede to the Treaty. Only States willing to secure the security of others by becoming party to the Treaty should receive security assurances. The failure of the draft to give due primacy to the particular claims and interests of States parties to the NPT had prevented his Government from supporting it.
The representative of South Africa said he had abstained in the vote on negative security assurances. His Government had strongly supported legally binding security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the NPT. That position had been demonstrated by its actions and in the context of proposals submitted during the NPT review process, which had included the submission of a draft protocol on the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against States parties to the NPT. Those actions underpinned his belief that security assurances had been an integral part of the NPT bargain, where non- nuclear-weapon States had undertaken a legal commitment not to aspire to nuclear weapons. The current text, like the one adopted last year (53/75), had not taken into account those views, which had prompted his delegations abstention.
The representative of Bangladesh said his delegation would have voted in favour of the draft on assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States, had it been present.
The Committee approved the draft resolution on the prohibition of the dumping of radioactive waste (document A/C.1/54/L.6) without a vote.
The Committee Secretary announced that Guyana was now a co-sponsor.
In explanation of position, the representative of India spoke in regard to operative paragraph 8 of the resolution, which welcomed the adoption of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. She said that while the international community needed to remain vigilant of the dangers of nuclear waste, as a developing country, India attached importance to the complete fuel cycle, and viewed spent fuel not a waste, but as a valuable resource.
The Committee approved the resolution on the Chemical Weapons Convention (document A/C.1/54/L.11) without a vote.
The representative of Egypt spoke on the resolution after action. He said he symphatized with the general thrust of the resolution, but regional concerns had kept Egypt from signing the Chemical Weapons Convention until Israel had acceded to the NPT. For that reason, he expressed reservations on operative paragraph 5 of the resolution, which emphasized the necessity of universal adherence to the Convention.
The representative of Cuba spoke on operative paragraph 7 of the resolution, which welcomed cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He said he wished to record his country's concern over the lack of definition in the relationship between the United Nations and the OPCW. There was still no agreement between the two, and that created a dangerous legal vacuum that should not be allowed to continue indefinitely. There needed to be an agreement acceptable to both organizations.
The representative of India said that it was a matter of concern that some State parties had not provided declarations to the OPCW as provided by article 11 of the Convention, which required States to review their export policies to prevent the proliferation of chemical weapons. She said that she hoped the situation would be redressed as soon as possible.
The representative of Côte d'Ivoire said his vote on assurances to non- nuclear-weapon States did not appear on the record. He wished it to be recorded that he had voted yes.
The representative of Pakistan said that, while he supported the broad thrust of the draft on the Chemical Weapons Convention, Pakistan was dissatisfied with the relationship between the United Nations and the OPCW, as stated in paragraph 7.
The representative of Iran said he wished to add his voice to those who had raised concern about the relationship between the United Nations and the OPCW. He thought that was a very important issue that needed to be addressed.
The Committee then approved the draft resolution prohibiting the developing and manufacture of new weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons (document A/C.1/54/L.26) without a vote.
The Committee next considered the draft resolution contained in the third category, namely, the prevention of an arms race in outer space (document A/C.1/54/L.22).
The representatives of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Côte dIvoire said their delegations wished to co-sponsor the text.
The draft resolution on the prevention of an arms race in outer space was approved by a vote of 138 in favour to none against, with 2 abstentions (Israel, United States) (Annex II).
The representative of the United States, speaking in explanation of vote, said although his delegation had agreed with some elements of the text, the text had included provisions which were overstated or unwise. Accordingly, like last year, he had abstained in the vote. There had been unprecedented peaceful cooperation in outer space, which would likely continue. Evidently, it was almost incontestable that there was no arms race in outer space. Moreover, military uses of outer space had enhanced international peace and security. He highlighted some practical examples, which had included treaty monitoring, refugee tracking, counter-terrorism activity and sanctions enforcement. Thus, he said the international community had not needed to take an active role in preventing an outer space arms race. Nevertheless, with a view to getting down to work in the Conference on Disarmament on such issues as a fissile material cut-off treaty, his delegation had exhibited some flexibility on such discussions, which should not prejudge its final analysis of the issue.
The representative of the United Kingdom, speaking also on behalf of Germany, said that although those delegations had supported the draft, they had wanted to make sure their vote would not be misconstrued when the subject was addressed at the 2000 session of the Conference on Disarmament. In the past, both the United Kingdom and Germany had actively contributed to the work of the ad hoc committee. Unfortunately, it had not been possible to achieve a consensus on any of the proposals. Those two countries had recognized the continued validity of the subject and would consider the establishment of an appropriate subsidiary body, as well as a re-examination and possible updating of its mandate.
He said the Conference had other important work to do in 2000, which should be given high priority, above all, an early start on negotiations for a fissile material cut-off treaty. For that reason, the positive vote on the outer space text should not be understood as endorsing agreement before the creation of a particular model for a subsidiary body to address that issue.
The representative of Kuwait said his delegation had wished to join the co-sponsors of the prevention of an arms race in outer space (document A/C.1/54/L.22). In addition, his vote in favour of the text had not been recorded on the voting machine.
The representative of Egypt said his country should have appeared in the list of co-sponsors to the draft on prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction (document A/C.1/54/L.26).
The representative of Sierra Leone said he had expected to vote in favour of the draft on the outer space arms race (document A/C.1/54/L.22).
The representative of Israel, speaking in explanation of the vote on the Chemical Weapons Convention (document A/C.1/54/L.11), said as in previous years it had joined consensus. His country had signed the Convention and had taken an active role to shape it into a workable mechanism, reflecting its vision of a world free from chemical weapons. He hoped other countries in the region would follow, among them, the chemical weapons producers that had continued to improve those weapons. Neither of those countries had signed or ratified the Convention. Rather, they had indicated collectively that they would not change their position.
Given Israels unique political environment, he said his country had not ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. It had stated at the signing ceremony that it would ratify the Convention, subject to its regional concerns. Those remained no less valid today as Israel had entered into significant negotiations to bring peace and security to the Middle East. The present statement must not prejudge his Governments decision on ratification or its continued support of the Convention. Positive changes in the regions climate would affect its position on ratification.
The Committee Chairman, RAIMUNDO GONZALEZ (Chile), said that once the process relating to a particular draft resolution was complete, a delegation should not subsequently explain its position in regard to the draft. Statements should be made in connection with drafts presently being examined.
The representative of Papua New Guinea said that if he had been present for the voting on the draft resolution on negative security assurances (document A/C.1/54/L.36), he would have voted in favour.
The representative of France, speaking in explanation of vote on the draft concerning the prevention of an outer space arms race (document A/C.1/54/L.22), said his delegation had supported the text, but its positive vote had not prevented his country from being dedicated to a compromised proposal submitted by the Algerian delegation in Geneva. He sincerely hoped that compromise would be taken into account in the discussions in January 2000, and that negotiations for a fissile material cut-off treaty would begin as soon as possible.
The representatives of Ethiopia, Guinea, Benin and Bolivia said their delegations would have voted in favour of the draft resolution on negative security assurances (document A/C.1/54/L.36), had those been present.
(annexes follow)
ANNEX I
Vote on Negative Security Assurances
The draft resolution on the conclusion of international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/54/L.36) was approved by a recorded vote of 77 in favour to none against, with 50 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Against: None.
Abstain: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan.
Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua-Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Jordan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Paupa New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tongo, Turkmenistan, Zambia.
(END OF ANNEX I)
ANNEX II
Vote on Prevention of Outer Space Arms Race
The draft resolution on the prevention of arms race in outer space (document A/C.1/54/L.22) was approved by a recorded vote of 138 in favour to none against, with 2 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belguim, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte dIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Against: None
Abstain: Israel, United States.
Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Jordan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lesotho, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Somalia, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tonga, Zambia.
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