CHINA ACCEPTS ‘FIVE AMBASSADORS’ PROPOSAL ON PREVENTION OF ARMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE, AS AMENDED

CHINA ACCEPTS ‘FIVE AMBASSADORS’ PROPOSAL ON PREVENTION

OF ARMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE, AS AMENDED

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 7 August (UN Information Service) -- The Conference on Disarmament this morning heard China say that it would express flexibility once again and accept what the “Five Ambassadors” proposal stated about prevention of an arms race in outer space, as amended on 26 June.  The Conference also heard statements by the Russian Federation on the “Five Ambassadors” proposal; Indonesia and Italy on the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Bali; and Ukraine on the stalemate in the Conference.  The President of the Conference also gave an account of the results of his consultations.

Ambassador Hu Xiaodi of China said that the Conference had been unable to conduct any substantive work for six years now.  In order to break the deadlock, China had demonstrated immense flexibility.  China would demonstrate its flexibility once again and accept the amendment in the “Five Ambassadors” proposal on prevention on an arms race in outer space (PAROS), even though the newly amended mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee on PAROS in the proposal still fell far short of China’s position on the need to negotiate an international legal instrument.  China hoped that the other interested parties would respond positively so that the Conference could start its substantive work as soon as possible.

Ambassador Leonid Skotnikov of the Russian Federation said his country would be ready to join in a consensus on the “Five Ambassadors” proposal in its present form, with the corrections made by Ambassador Lint.  Naturally, the Russian Federation would have preferred a negotiating mandate on space and not a discussion approach as proposed by the five ambassadors.  However, the Russian Federation understood how complex it was to harmonize the positions of all the members of the Conference on the programme of work.  It believed that with the “Five Ambassadors” proposal, the necessary balance had been found and it hoped that this proposal would be supported generally in the near future.

Speaking on the stalemate in the work of the Conference, Mykhailo Skuratovskyi of Ukraine said that, as the seventh year had almost elapsed since the Conference had adopted its current agenda, one had to question whether the Conference was trying to demonstrate its uniqueness by setting a senseless record of the longest fruitless talks on how to establish appropriate negotiating mandates and bodies on specific items of this agenda.  He appealed to the delegations concerned to respond to the “Five Ambassadors” new proposal and to

express their positions on the issue, adding that Ukraine supported the initiative.

The President of the Conference, Ambassador Carlo Trezza of Italy, said that in his consultations, he had tried to discuss in depth the proposal of the “Five Ambassadors” which remained the most updated and advanced proposal for a programme of work.  He would continue to try his best, through formal and informal consultations, to reduce the gap between the different positions in order to revitalize the work of the Conference.  From an operational point of view, he suggested that the Conference continue working on the main themes contained in the Five Ambassadors proposal with a view to discuss more in depth some subjects of negotiations which were at a more advanced stage of preparation.  On the whole, he had the feeling that further work was necessary to reach a compromise on a programme of work, and that, with a certain degree of flexibility, centimetre by centimetre, it was possible to reach a compromise.

Ambassador Nugroho Wisnumurti of Indonesia and Ambassador Trezza, on behalf of the Italian Presidency of the European Union, spoke about the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Bali and the "Political Declaration on the Prevention of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Means of Delivery", which was adopted at the end of the Meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Ambassador Trezza expressed, on behalf of the Conference, his heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Indonesia for the bombing in Jakarta.  In response, Ambassador Wisnumurti of Indonesia expressed his thanks to the Conference and the President for their deep sympathy and condolences concerning the bombing.  Indonesia had condemned this heinous crime to the fullest.  The bombing had led to death and injuries among Indonesians and foreigners, and it would only strengthen Indonesia’s resolve to combat terrorism with the cooperation of the international community.

The next plenary of the Conference will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 14 August 2003.

Statements

CARLO TREZZA (Italy), President of the Conference on Disarmament, said that he had continued his consultations this week.  He had held presidential consultations yesterday and had listened very carefully to the reports by the coordinators on the results of their group meetings.  He had also consulted with the previous and future presidencies of the Conference as well as with delegations.  So far, he had had 32 of these encounters in addition to 21 institutional consultations.  He had tried to discuss in depth the proposal of the “Five Ambassadors” which remained the most updated and advanced proposal for a programme of work.

His consultations had confirmed his understanding so far that this proposal was not a "take it or leave it" package.  Although there should not be a specific hierarchy between the seven items as suggested, some might be considered as being more advanced for negotiation or discussion.  A vast majority agreed that not all the items could be treated simultaneously.  A compromise on the issues which were at a more advanced stage appeared, therefore, to be necessary.  The view was also strongly expressed that no theme should be held hostage to others.  Indeed, a strict linkage could paralyse the Conference.  He would continue to try his best, through formal and informal consultations, to reduce the gap between the different positions in order to revitalize the work of the Conference. 

From an operational point of view, he suggested that the Conference continue working on the main themes contained in the Five Ambassadors proposal with a view to discuss more in depth some subjects of negotiations, which were at a more advanced stage of preparation.  On the whole, he had the feeling that further work was necessary to reach a compromise on a programme of work, and that, with a certain degree of flexibility, centimetre by centimeter, it was possible to reach a compromise.  The Conference could examine how the new realities could affect the various issues which were contained in the Five Ambassadors proposal of a programme of work.  He continued to be ready to consider suggestions or presentations on new themes, especially on those that could be instrumental for a better understanding and updating of the main issues.

NUGROHO WISNUMURTI (Indonesia) said that, on behalf of his delegation, he wished to express his thanks to the Conference and the President for their deep sympathy and condolences concerning the bombing in Jakarta.  Indonesia had condemned this heinous crime to the fullest.  The bombing had led to death and injuries among Indonesians and foreigners and it would only strengthen its resolve to combat terrorism with the cooperation of the international community. 

Mr. Wisnumurti said his country had just hosted the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of Foreign Ministers in Bali.  Introducing the document adopted at the meeting entitled "Political Declaration on the Prevention of Proliferation of weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Means of Delivery", he said that it was timely because it addressed issues of common concern to both Asian and European regions and also to the international community in general.  Among the salient points, the ASEM Foreign Ministers had emphasized the importance of continuing efforts on disarmament and prevention of proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons; and related materials, equipment and technologies, in accordance with relevant international conventions.  Furthermore, the Ministers shared the deep concern about the threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, while at the same time stressing the importance of effective export controls in preventing he spread of these horrendous weapons.  For this purpose, the Ministers were resolved to promote dialogue and cooperation on non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful uses of nuclear, biological and chemical technologies between the two regions so as to counter the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means.  He hoped that the Declaration would enrich and help accelerate the deliberations of the Conference on Disarmament.

Mr. TREZZA (Italy), speaking in his national capacity as the Italian presidency of the European Union, thanked Ambassador Wisnumurti for his presentation of the Declaration adopted during the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Bali.  He recalled that ASEM had been instituted in the first half of 1996 in Bangkok, precisely when Italy held the rotating presidency of the European Union.  It was an honour once again to co-chair the Conference this year.  The meeting had enabled dialogue between Asia and Europe to take a new and important stride forward in friendship, mutual respect and consideration between the geographical areas.  He drew the attention of the Conference to the part of the Declaration which mentioned the importance of preventing terrorists from acquiring or developing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.  The Ministers had also stressed the importance of effective export controls in preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction without hampering cooperation in material, equipment and technologies for peaceful purposes.

MYKHAILO SKURATOVSKYI (Ukraine) said the statements made by the outgoing ambassadors in the late June plenary had contained some bitterness for the lack of progress in considering the issues of common concern and it reflected the mood of mot of the delegations, if not all.  The Conference member States must do their utmost to change this stagnant situation and to prove the world community at large that the Conference delegations had not secluded themselves in the Chamber of the Council from the rest of the world.  Against the background when the seventh year had almost elapsed since the Conference had adopted its current agenda, while effective implementation of this agenda had failed to start, one had to question whether the Conference was trying to demonstrate its uniqueness by setting a senseless record of the longest fruitless talks on how to establish appropriate negotiating mandates and bodies on specific items of this agenda.  He appealed to the delegations concerned to respond to the “Five Ambassadors” new proposal and to express their positions on the issue.

Ukraine reiterated its position in support of the “Five Ambassadors” initiative.  It was flexible even in the recent proposal to soften the language of document CD/1693 concerning prevention of an arms race in outer space if it helped to commence the long-awaited focused deliberations on this agenda item, which might hopefully result in relevant negotiations.  Ukraine also supported the idea to put in place an international, multilateral, non-discriminatory, verifiable and legally binding instrument preventing deployment of weapons in outer space. 

HU XIAODI (China) said that he wished to address the issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS).  Today, he wanted to expound on the position of the Chinese delegation on the programme of work of the Conference.  China all along had held that given the divergent views on the priorities of the work of the Conference, it was imperative to take into consideration all the views and to conduct negotiations simultaneously on PAROS, a fissile material cut-off treaty, negative security assurances, and nuclear disarmament.  This was the right way to continue the programme of work of the Conference in a smooth way.  It was regrettable that the Conference had not formulated such a programme of work.  It was well known that China had always been supportive of the work of the Conference on Disarmament and was in favour of negotiations on fissile material cut-off treaty, negative security assurances, and nuclear disarmament.   With the insufficiency of the current legal system in the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the fast development weapons, outer space was under threat of becoming weaponized.  Therefore, negotiations on PAROS were important in order to prevent mishaps.

The Conference on Disarmament should establish an Ad Hoc Committee on PAROS to negotiate an international legal system to prevent a weapons race in outer space.  This would be in the interest of all delegations, including the major space powers.  The Conference had been unable to conduct any substantive work for six years now.  In order to break the deadlock, China had demonstrated immense flexibility.  Many delegations had suggested proposals and had tabled constructive proposals.  Ambassador Lint of Belgium had amended the “Five Ambassadors” proposal on 26 June concerning the Ad Hoc Committee on PAROS, deleting the phrase “and

without prejudice” and adding the phrase “including the possibility of negotiating relevant international legal instruments.  China wished to point out that the newly amended mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee on PAROS in the “Five Ambassadors” proposal still fell far short of China’s position on the need to negotiate an international legal instrument.  However, China would demonstrate its flexibility once again.  China accepted the PAROS mandate as amended on 26 June.  It was its hope that the other interested parties would respond positively so that the Conference could start its substantive work as soon as possible.

(The relevant part of the revised paragraph 4 of the “Five Ambassadors” proposal, as amended on 26 June and as accepted by China today, reads, as follows (deletion and a new text are indicated by different fonts):  “4. The Conference establishes, for the duration of the current session, an Ad hoc Committee under agenda item 3 entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space" to deal with the prevention of an arms race in outer space.  The Ad hoc Committee shall identify and examine, without limitation and without prejudice, any specific topics or proposals, which could include confidence-building or transparency measures, general principles, treaty commitments and the elaboration of a regime capable of preventing an arms race in outer space, including the possibility of negotiating relevant international legal instrument.  In doing so, the Ad Hoc Committee shall take appropriate account of the need to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and the prevention of an arms race there, while also promoting international stability and respecting the principle of undiminished security for all...”

LEONID SKOTNIKOV (Russian Federation) said that after the statement by Ambassador Hu of China, it was necessary to say a few words on the programme of work of the Conference.  First of all, the Russian Federation would be ready to join in a consensus on the Ambassadors” proposal in its present form, with the corrections made by Ambassador Lint.  Naturally, the Russian Federation would have preferred a negotiating mandate on space and not a discussion approach as proposed by the five ambassadors.  The Russian Federation understood how complex it was to harmonize the positions of all the members of the Conference on the programme of work.  It believed that with the “Five Ambassadors” proposal, the necessary balance had been found and it hoped that this proposal would be supported generally in the near future.

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