DETERIORATING NUCLEAR ARMS SITUATION COULD END IN RENEWED ARMS RACE, DISARMAMENT COMMISSION TOLD, AS GENERAL DISCUSSION CONTINUES

Disarmament Commission

2001 Substantive Session

243^rd Meeting (PM)

DETERIORATING NUCLEAR ARMS SITUATION COULD END IN RENEWED ARMS RACE,

DISARMAMENT COMMISSION TOLD, AS GENERAL DISCUSSION CONTINUES

The nuclear arms situation had deteriorated, with negotiations stalled or non-existent on some critical issues and the possibility thus existed of a nuclear arms race, the representative of Indonesia told the Disarmament Commission this afternoon, as it continued its general exchange of views.

Some nuclear weapon States continued to find ways to rationalize the solidification of their stockpiles and the consolidation of their weapons infrastructure, he said, which was reminiscent of the persistence of deadlock during the cold war period.  Of equal concern were plans for building missile defence, which would inevitably have far-reaching repercussions on existing arms control treaties.  Such plans would be incompatible with the limiting provisions of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems (ABM Treaty) -- a critical component of strategic stability and an indispensable element to further reduce strategic armaments. 

Mongolia’s representative said that the Commission had an increasingly important role to play in the promotion of arms control and disarmament at the regional and global levels.  Nuclear disarmament, the most crucial of all disarmament and non-proliferation issues, was a prerequisite for the maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security.  That sentiment had been echoed last year at the Millennium Summit, where world leaders emphasized their determination to eliminate all weapons of destruction, particularly nuclear weapons.

With those things in mind, he believed that member States should make every effort to achieve the following goals as soon as possible: bringing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force and ensuring compliance with its provisions; strengthening the non-proliferation regime and fully implementing the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT); preserving the spirit of the ABM Treaty; and conclusion of a universal and verifiable fissile materials cut-off treaty.

The Commission will meet again at 10 a.m. Tuesday, 10 April, to continue its general exchange of views.

Background

The substantive session of the Disarmament Commission for 2001 met this afternoon to continue its general exchange of views.

Statements

MAKMUR WIDODO (Indonesia) said that positive developments notwithstanding, there had been a lack of deep reductions in nuclear arsenals.  Reminiscent of the persistence of deadlock during the cold war period, some of the nuclear weapon States were solidifying their stockpiles and consolidating their weapons infrastructure.  Modern designs were not only being maintained, but also upgraded into more sophisticated weaponry.  The focus continued to be on new rationalizations for the retention of nuclear weapons.  The nuclear situation had indeed deteriorated, as negotiations were either stalled or non-existent on some critical issues, leaving open the possibility of re-igniting a nuclear arms race and leading to an uncertain strategic era.

Expressing concern over the development, proliferation and deployment of ballistic missiles, he underscored the need for a multilaterally negotiated, comprehensive and non-discriminatory agreement to reduce and eliminate destabilizing ballistic missiles without in any way hindering their application for peaceful purposes.  Of equal concern were plans for missile defence, which would inevitably have far-reaching repercussions on existing arms control treaties and on the prospects for future agreements. 

Such plans, he continued, would be incompatible with the limiting provisions of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems (ABM Treaty), which had been generally recognized as a critical component of strategic stability and an indispensable element to further reduce strategic armaments.  The need for a comprehensive approach in resolving that issue, to create an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and international security, was self-evident.

Confidence-building measures in the context of conventional arms would have an important role to play as a means of increasing transparency, clarifying intentions and addressing the security dilemma, he noted.  Rather than injecting issues that were irrelevant to disarmament, the Commission's endeavours should be guided by a sense of realism and pragmatism.  A lack of adequate information on the military strengths of States had often been a major cause of suspicion and a prime factor in the continuation of the arms race and the slow progress in disarmament efforts.  Hence, sharing data could significantly contribute to dispelling suspicion and secrecy. 

For those reasons, he said, efforts to improve the flow of information on military matters were needed to establish confidence, overcome mistrust and thereby facilitate the process of disarmament.  In that context, the great potential offered by modern technology, including information technologies, could be utilized in preventing crises, reducing risks and ensuring the observance of arms control agreements, thus, contributing to confidence-building among nations.

J. ENKHSAIKHAN (Mongolia) said that, as excessive stockpiling of weapons, including small arms and nuclear warheads, continued unabated in some countries,

the Commission had an increasingly important role to play in the promotion of arms

control and disarmament at the regional and global levels.  Moreover, nuclear disarmament, the most crucial of all disarmament and non-proliferation issues, was

a prerequisite for the maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security.  That sentiment had been echoed last year at the Millennium Summit, where world leaders emphasized their determination to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons.  In another development last year, States parties to the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) expressed an unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their respective nuclear arsenals, leading to total disarmament.

With those things in mind, Mongolia believed that member States should make every effort to achieve the following goals as soon as possible:  bringing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force and ensuring compliance with its provisions; strengthening the non-proliferation regime and fully implementing the NPT; preserving the spirit of the ABM Treaty, and conclusion of a universal and verifiable fissile materials cut-off treaty.  He also attached great importance to the implementation of the Strategic Arms Limitation and Reduction Treaty II (START II) and the conclusion of START III.  He also believed that the principles and guidelines on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones would further consolidate the existing zones and facilitate the establishment of new ones, thus reinforcing a valuable component of non-proliferation efforts, as well as positively influencing regional security and stability. 

Turning next to practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms, the Commission’s other main focus during this session, he said his delegation believed in reducing or even eliminating certain categories of conventional weapons.  However, any such initiatives should bear in mind the security and defence issues of States.  He was also concerned with the spread of illicit small arms.  To that end, he welcomed the ongoing preparations for the July Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.  That Conference should adopt a comprehensive action plan that contained all necessary measures to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade of those types of weapons, as well as concrete measures to ensure international cooperation, assistance and follow-up initiatives. 

He went on to say that Mongolia welcomed as an important step in conventional disarmament, the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Landmines (Ottawa Convention).  Strict implementation of that Convention would substantially reduce human suffering in many regions of the world.  While Mongolia could not join the Convention at present, it supported the primary objective of banning landmines and would be exploring ways and means to accede to the Convention as soon as possible.  He added that increased transparency of military budgets and the further reduction of conventional arms would further strengthen initiatives aimed at confidence-building. 

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