TEXT OF PROMOTION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES ONE OF 7 DRAFT RESOLUTIONS APPROVED IN DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE

Press Release
GA/DIS/3190

TEXT OF PROMOTION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES ONE OF 7 DRAFT RESOLUTIONS APPROVED IN DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE

Others Concern Environmental Norms, Disarmament Education, Telecommunications, Development, Practical Disarmament, Mediterranean

The General Assembly would affirm that scientific and technological progress should be used for the benefit of all mankind to promote the sustainable economic and social development of all States and to safeguard international security, and that international cooperation in the use of science and technology through the transfer and exchange of technological know-how for peaceful purposes should be promoted, according to one of seven draft resolutions approved this morning in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

The text on the role of science and technology for peaceful purposes was approved by a recorded vote of 91 in favour to 44 against, with 17 abstentions. (For details of the vote, see Annex II).

By a recorded vote of 149 in favour to none against, with 4 abstentions, the Committee approved a draft text on observance of environmental norms in disarmament agreements, by which the Assembly would reaffirm that international disarmament forums should take fully into account relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation, and that all States should fully contribute to ensuring compliance with such norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they were parties. (See Annex I).

Acting without a vote, the Committee approved drafts concerning: a United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education; developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security; relationship between disarmament and development; consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures; and strengthening security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region.

The text on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security would have the Assembly call upon Member States to promote further, at multilateral levels, the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security, as well as consideration of possible measures to limit the threats emerging in that field.

First Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/DIS/3190 24th Meeting (AM) 27 October 2000

It would consider that the purpose of such measures could be served through the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems.

By the terms of the draft resolution on the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to prepare a study on disarmament and non-proliferation that would, among other things: define contemporary disarmament and non- proliferation education and training; assess the global situation of disarmament and non-proliferation education and training at the primary, secondary, university and post-graduate levels; and recommend ways to promote education and training in disarmament and non-proliferation at all levels of formal and informal education.

Under the draft text on the relationship between disarmament and development, the Assembly would urge the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms control agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever widening gap between developed and developing countries.

By the draft on consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures, the Assembly would stress the particular relevance of the guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament, with particular emphasis on consolidation of peace. It would take note of the report of the Secretary-General on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures and encourage Member States, as well as regional arrangements and agencies, to lend their support to the implementation of recommendations contained therein.

A draft on strengthening security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region would have the Assembly express its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all the countries and the right of the people to self-determination.

The representatives of Egypt and Belarus introduced revised draft resolutions. Statements were made by the representatives of Iraq, United States, France and India.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. Monday, 30 October, to continue taking action on all disarmament and security-related draft resolutions.

First Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/DIS/3190 24th Meeting (AM) 27 October 2000

Committee Work Programme

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this morning to continue the third stage of its work, namely action on disarmament and security-related draft resolutions.

According to its programme of work, the Committee will act on a total of 50 draft resolutions during its current session. The drafts have been grouped into 10 clusters. They include 18 drafts under nuclear weapons, three under other weapons of mass destruction, one under outer space (disarmament aspects), five under conventional weapons, and three under regional disarmament and security. It will also act on two drafts under confidence-building measures, including transparency in armaments, 11 under disarmament machinery, four under other disarmament measures, one under related matters of disarmament and international security and two under international security.

By terms of a draft resolution on the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education (A/C.1/55/L.10) the General Assembly would request the Secretary-General to prepare, with the assistance of a group of qualified governmental experts, a study on disarmament and non-proliferation, that would: define contemporary disarmament and non-proliferation education and training; assess the global situation of disarmament and non-proliferation education and training at the primary, secondary, university and post-graduate levels; recommend ways to promote education and training in disarmament and non- proliferation at all levels of formal and informal education; examine ways to utilize more fully evolving pedagogical methods to enhance efforts in disarmament education and training at all levels, in the developed and the developing world; recommend ways that organizations of the United Nations system with special competence in disarmament or education or both can harmonize and coordinate their efforts in disarmament and non-proliferation education; and devise ways to introduce disarmament and non-proliferation education into post- conflict situations as a contribution to peace-building.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Mozambique, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and Ukraine.

A text on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security (document A/C.1/55/L.6) would have the Assembly call upon Member States to promote further at multilateral levels the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security, as well as consideration of possible measures to limit the threats emerging in that field. It would consider that the purpose of such measures could be served through the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems.

The Assembly would invite all Member States to continue to inform the Secretary-General of their views and assessments of the following questions: general appreciation of the issues of information security; definition of the basic notions related to information security, including unauthorized interference with or misuse of information and telecommunications systems and information resources; and the content of the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems. The Secretary-General would be asked to submit a report based on replies received from Member States to the next Assembly session.

A draft resolution on the observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control (document A/C.1/55/L.21) would have the General Assembly reaffirm that international disarmament forums should take fully into account relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States should fully contribute to ensuring compliance with such norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they were parties.

The Assembly would also call upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures, so as to contribute to ensuring the application of scientific and technological progress in the framework of international security, disarmament and other related spheres, without detriment to the environment or to its effective contribution to attaining sustainable development.

The draft resolution is sponsored by South Africa, on behalf of the Non- Aligned Movement.

Another draft text sponsored by South Africa on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement on the relationship between disarmament and development (document A/C.1/55/L.22) would have the Assembly urge the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms control agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever widening gap between developed and developing countries.

By further terms of the text, the Assembly would call upon the high-level Steering Committee on Disarmament and Development to strengthen and enhance its programme of activities. It would invite all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General, by 15 April, their views and proposals for the implementation of the Action Programme adopted at the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, as well as any other views and proposals with a view to achieving the goals of the Action Programme, within the framework of current international relations.

A text on the role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament (document A/C.1/55/L.31) would affirm that scientific and technological progress should be used for the benefit of all mankind to promote the sustainable economic and social development of all States and to safeguard international security, and that international cooperation in the use of science and technology through the transfer and exchange of technological know-how for peaceful purposes should be promoted.

In that connection, the Assembly would urge Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations with the participation of all interested States in order to establish universally acceptable, non-discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sir Lanka, Sudan, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

By the term of a draft resolution on consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures (document A/C.1/55/L.15) the General assembly would stress the particular relevance of the guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament, with particular emphasis on consolidation of peace. It would take note of the report of the Secretary-General on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures and encourage Member States, as well as regional arrangements and agencies, to lend their support to the implementation of recommendations contained therein.

By the further terms of the draft resolution, the Assembly would invite the group of interested States that was formed in New York in March 1998 to continue to analyse lessons learned from previous disarmament and peace-building projects and to promote new practical disarmament measures to consolidate peace, especially as undertaken or designed by affected States themselves.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region (document A/C.1/55/L.27) the General Assembly would express its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all the countries and the right of the people to self-determination. It would call for full adherence to the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Nations.

By further terms of the draft resolution, the Assembly would commend the efforts of the Mediterranean countries towards the general objective of turning the region into an area of dialogue, exchange and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity. The Assembly would recognize that the elimination of the economic and social disparities in levels of development and other obstacles in the Mediterranean area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation. It would further call upon States of the region that had not yet done so to adhere to all multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and security in the region.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey and United Kingdom.

Introduction of Revised Drafts

ALLA ISSA (Egypt) said he had conducted extensive consultations during the past weeks on the text concerning the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East (document A/C.1/55/L.29/Rev.1). The present draft was a sincere and honest result derived from the remarks and concerns conveyed to his delegation in the course of those conversations. A new operative paragraph 1 welcomed the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2000 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference. What was now operative paragraph 3 calls upon the remaining State in the Middle East not yet party to the NPT to accede to it without further delay and not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons and to renounce their possession. It also calls on it to place its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full scope International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

He recalled the introduction of the draft last week in which he explained that the text had invited Israel to join the 182 States that had renounced the nuclear weapon option. Acceptance of that had become a moral and political obligation if the NPT was to remain a credible instrument with non-proliferation value. The draft was not confrontational. Rather, it encouraged the remaining State not party to the NPT in the Middle East to accept the same legally binding non-proliferation commitments, as all other States in the region had done, and to refrain from any action that could undermine peace and security. The draft continued to take account of developments during the year, particularly over the past six months -- developments that had had particular significance in the Middle East. On behalf of the draft's co-sponsors, he urged Member States to send a clear message that there was no selectivity when it came to non- proliferation and that the consensus agreed to five months ago should be respected. That would be best conveyed by a positive vote for the draft.

VALENTIN RYBAKOV (Belarus) presented a revised draft resolution on regional disarmament and non-proliferation (A/C.1/55/L.46/Rev.1). He said that it was the result of intensive consultation. It referred to the establishment of new nuclear-weapon-free zones and reaffirmed the general support for a world free of nuclear weapons. It also reflected the principles agreed upon concerning the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones. The draft resolution welcomed and supported steps undertaken to conclude further nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties and sought the cooperation of the international community on the establishment of such zones on the basis of agreements freely arrived at between States in the regions concerned.

The draft resolution was constructive and non-confrontational, he said. He was grateful to all delegations with whom consultations had been held and hoped the draft would be adopted without a vote.

Action on Texts

The Committee Secretary then read out an oral statement concerning the programme budget implications on the draft resolution concerning the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education (document A/C.1/55/L.10).

He said that the following countries had joined as co-sponsors: Algeria, India and New Zealand.

The Committee then approved the draft resolution without a vote.

Next, the draft resolution on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security (document A/C.1/55/L.6) was approved without a vote.

The Committee took up the draft resolution on the observance of environmental norms in disarmament and arms control agreements (document A/C.1/55/L.21).

Speaking before the vote, the representative of Iraq said all United Nations resolutions reaffirmed the need of Member States to fully respect commitments made on environmental norms. Reviewing the commitments made over the last 10 years, it appeared that there were two States that were permanent members of the Security Council, namely, the United States and the United Kingdom, which had deliberately violated environmental preservation agreements. Those countries had breached the commitments made in the area of arms control and non-proliferation by using more than 3,000 tons of munitions containing enriched uranium in their aggression against Iraq in 1991. The use of those munitions also occurred in 1999 against Yugoslavia.

He said that munitions containing enriched uranium represented a new type of radioactive arms, which could threaten the environment by releasing irradiated dust. Threats from disease, such as cancer, and environmental disaster had emerged. That type of radiation could last 4.5 million years, which provided some idea of the danger affecting Iraq and the neighbouring environments, not to mention the risk to American and British soldiers. It was incumbent upon the international community to ensure that an international agreement be adopted to ban the use of enriched uranium and to take deterrent measures against those States that violated their commitments. He reaffirmed the responsibility of the United States and the United Kingdom with regard to the dangers created and the damage done to the environment in Iraq. Thus, he supported the draft and asked all other States to do so. He also invited members of United Nations disarmament bodies to abide by the draft text and examine the consequences of the failure to respect such commitments.

The draft resolution on observance of environmental norms (document A/C.1/55/L.21) was approved by a vote of 149 in favour to none against, with 4 abstentions (France, Israel, United Kingdom, United States). (For details of the vote, see Annex I.)

Speaking after the vote, the representative of the United States said that his country remained uncertain about the purpose of the draft resolution and was not convinced of its relevance to the work of the Committee. The United States implemented stringent environmental standards. While the present draft resolution avoided the strong language of past years, the United States still questioned its utility. His country, therefore, abstained from the vote.

The Committee then approved the draft resolution on the relationship between disarmament and development (document A/C.1/55/L.22) without a vote.

Speaking after approval of the text, the representative of the United States said that it should be put on the record that his country did not participate in the consensus on the draft resolution. The United States believed that disarmament and development were two distinct issues that did not lend themselves to being linked. The United States did not consider itself bound by the declaration of the 1987 International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development.

The representative of France, on behalf of the European Union and associated countries, said that they joined in the consensus on the draft resolution. While the European Union recognized the benefits that could be derived from disarmament, there was no link from the savings from disarmament to development. The European Union was committed to development and was the largest contributor to development programmes.

The draft resolution on the role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament (document A/C.1/55/L.31) was then approved by a vote of 91 in favour to 44 against, with 17 abstentions (See Annex II).

The representative of India said he had submitted a list of additional co- sponsors to the draft: Burkina Faso, Mauritius and Namibia.

The Committee next approved the draft resolution on consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures (document A/C.1/55/L.15).

The draft resolution on strengthening security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region (document A/C.1/55/L.27) was also approved without a vote.

The representative of Haiti said he would have voted in favour of the following drafts had he been present: the 2000 NPT Review Conference (document A/C.1/55/L.7) and on security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/55/L.36).

(annexes follow)

First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3190 24th Meeting (AM) 27 October 2000

ANNEX I

Vote on Environmental Norms

The draft resolution on the observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of disarmament and arms control agreements (document A/C.1/55/L.21) was approved by a recorded vote of 149 in favour to 0 against, with 4 abstention, as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, 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, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: None.

Abstain: France, Israel, United Kingdom, United States.

Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Belize, Burundi, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Honduras, Kiribati, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu.

(END OF ANNEX I)

First Committee Press Release GA/DIS/3190 24th Meeting (AM) 27 October 2000

ANNEX II

Vote on Role of Science and Technology

The draft resolution on the role of science and technology in the context of international security (document A/C.1/55/L.31) was approved by a recorded vote of 91 in favour to 44 against, with 17 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstain: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Samoa, South Africa, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay.

Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Belize, Burundi, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Honduras, Kiribati, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

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