UN DISARMAMENT YEARBOOK 2000 HIGHLIGHTS POSITIVE

AND NEGATIVE TRENDS DURING MILLENNIUM YEAR

NEW YORK (Department for Disarmament Affairs):  The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook for 2000 has now been released.  The Yearbook is aimed at disarmament practitioners involved in United Nations work —- diplomats, security scholars and fellows, students, governmental and non-governmental representatives. It provides an annual review of international disarmament issues, seen through the lens of General Assembly resolutions and decisions, the work of the Disarmament Commission, and discussions and negotiations of the Conference on Disarmament.  The 2000 Yearbook highlights the commitments, to action on nuclear disarmament, small arms and light weapons, and landmines, made in the Millennium Declaration, adopted by the first worldwide summit of the heads of State or Government at the Millennium Assembly in September 2001.

A summary of the outcome of the five-year review of the operations of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons by its States parties in May last year is found in the first chapter.  The Conference adopted a final document containing far-reaching practical steps for systematic and progressive pursuit of global nuclear disarmament, including an “unequivocal undertaking” by the nuclear weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament.

The longest chapter is devoted to the expanding role of the United Nations in the field of conventional weaponry, in particular small arms and light weapons and transparency and openness in military matters.  It describes the preparations that began last year that led to the successful convening of the first-ever United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 9-20 July 2001.  The achievements of the Second Meeting of the States Parties to the anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention in September and the Annual Conference of the States Parties to Amended Protocol II (on landmines) of the convention on certain conventional weapons are also outlined. 

Now in its twenty-fifth edition, the Disarmament Yearbook has proven itself a “handy shelf reference documenting the triumphs and setbacks of the world community’s efforts to reduce and eliminate the deadliest of weapons,” the Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Jayantha Dhanapala, explained in the foreword to the 2000 edition. 

United Nations publications may be obtained from bookstores and distributors throughout the world.  Consult your bookstore or write to: United Nations, Sales Section, New York or Geneva.

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