DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE CONSENSUS TEXT CALLS ON ALL STATES TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PREVENT TERRORISTS FROM ACQUIRING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

First Committee

18^th Meeting (AM)

DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE CONSENSUS TEXT CALLS ON ALL STATES TO SUPPORT EFFORTS

TO PREVENT TERRORISTS FROM ACQUIRING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

One of 12 Drafts Recommended to General Assembly for Adoption;

Disarmament and Development, Mediterranean Security Among Other Issues

Deeply concerned by the growing risk of linkages between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, the General Assembly would call on all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means, according to one of 12 drafts approved today by the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

Approved without a vote, the draft resolution, first tabled last year by India’s delegation, drew several statements of support, including by the representative of Pakistan who indicated that, while fully agreeing with the objectives of the text, he felt that the need to address the underlying causes of terrorism, which lay in injustice and deprivation, should also be included in the draft.

The United States’ representative, also speaking after the vote, said that the draft last year had, for the first time, focused the Committee’s attention on the weapons of mass destruction-terrorist nexus.  The draft helpfully acknowledged the need for concerted national, regional and international efforts to confront that barbarous threat, from which no civilized nation was immune.  Both the current text and its predecessor had sent a positive sign that the Committee was prepared to respond to that threat in a serious way and on a consensus basis.

Expressing further support of that draft, the representative of the Russian Federation said that the path to rooting out those threats was in further universalizing existing non-proliferation regimes, strengthening international verification instruments, introducing safe technologies in nuclear production and the nuclear power industry, and the relinquishing by States of superfluous arsenals and military programmes likely to upset the military balance and provoke an arms race.  The spread of weapons of mass destruction, including preventing them from falling into terrorist hands, must be resolved, not only in the General Assembly, but also in the Security Council, he said.

The Committee also approved without a vote a draft decision by which the Assembly would decide to include an item on verification on the agenda of its next session.  Speaking before action on that text, Germany’s representative stressed that greater emphasis must be placed on non-routine inspections, in order to respond effectively and swiftly to concerns regarding non-compliance.  He called for a review of existing verification regimes, with view to identifying gaps and, where necessary, promoting the establishment of additional verification instruments, and expressed support for retaining the verification and inspection expertise of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) to enhance the Security Council’s capability to respond to non-compliance.

A draft resolution on the role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament was approved by a recorded vote of 94 in favour to 47 against, with 18 abstentions (Annex III).  By its terms, the 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.

The following additional drafts were also approved by recorded votes:  implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, 110 in favour, to 3 against (France, United Kingdom, United States), with 42 abstentions (Annex I); and the relationship between disarmament and development, 157 in favour, to 1 against (United States), with 2 abstentions (France, Israel)(Annex II).

By several texts approved without a vote, the Assembly would:  request the Disarmament Commission to meet from 5 to 23 April 2004; call upon Member States to further consider, at multilateral levels, existing and potential threats in the field of information and telecommunications; decide to defer consideration of the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures to its next session and to consider it every two years in the future; and decide to include the review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International on its next provisional agenda.

Also:  reaffirm that security in the Mediterranean region was closely linked to European security, as well as to international peace and security; reiterate its strong support for the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean; and reaffirm its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Italy (on behalf of the European Union), Canada, Myanmar, and Brazil.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. Thursday, 30 October, to continue taking action on draft texts.

Background

When the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this morning to continue its third and final phase of work, namely; action on all draft resolutions and decisions, it had before it texts related to confidence-building measures including transparency in armaments, disarmament machinery, other disarmament measures, related matters of disarmament and international security, and international security.

Expected to be acted on under cluster 6, which concerns confidence-building measures, is a draft decision on verification.  Action is also expected on three drafts resolutions from cluster 7, which deals with disarmament machinery.  Those texts involve:  the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean; the Report of the Disarmament Commission; and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific. 

In cluster 8; other disarmament measures, action is expected on draft resolutions concerning the following themes:  developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security; implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace; the role of science and technology in international security and disarmament; and measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.  A draft decision on the relationship between disarmament and development will also be acted upon.

The Committee is also expected to take up a draft decision on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures from cluster 9, which concerns related matters of disarmament and international security.  From cluster 10, international security, the Committee is expected to take action on a draft resolution on strengthening security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, and a draft decision concerning a review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security. 

Draft Summaries

By a draft decision sponsored by Canada on verification (document A/C.1/58/L.48), the Assembly would decide to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled “Verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification”.

The draft resolution on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (document A/C.1/58/L.7), sponsored by Costa Rica on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, would have the Assembly reiterate its strong support for the role of the Centre in promoting United Nations activities at the regional level to strengthen peace, stability, security and development.  It would appeal to Member States, particularly in the region, and to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to make and increase voluntary contributions to strengthen the Centre and its programme of activities.

Reaffirming the role of the Disarmament Commission as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allowed for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommendations, the Assembly would request the Commission to meet from 5 to 23 April 2004, according to the draft text on the report of the Disarmament Commission (document A/C.1/58/L.20).

The draft resolution is sponsored by Algeria, Brazil, Belarus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guatemala, Italy, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Nepal and Venezuela.

A draft resolution on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (document A/C.1/58/L.21) would have the Assembly reaffirm its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the Centre, and underline the importance of the Kathmandu process as a powerful vehicle for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogue.  It would appeal to Member States, especially those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Centre, to strengthen the Centre’s activities and their implementation.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lana, Thailand, Tonga and Viet Nam.

A draft resolution sponsored by the Russian Federation on developments in information and telecommunications in the context of international security (document A/C.1/58/L.3) would have the Assembly call upon Member States to further consider at multilateral levels, existing and potential threats in that field, as well as possible measures to limit emerging threats without drastically compromising the free flow of information.

A draft resolution sponsored by Malaysia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace (document A/C.1/58/L.24) would have the Assembly reiterate its conviction that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee was important and would greatly facilitate the development of a mutually beneficial dialogue to advance peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region.

A draft decision sponsored by Malaysia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement on the relationship between disarmament and development (document A/C.1/58/L.29) would have the Assembly decide to include the item in its next provisional agenda.

By a draft resolution on the role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament (document A/C.1/58/L.33), the 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.

It 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 Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Viet Nam and Zambia.

Deeply concerned by the growing risk of linkages between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and particularly by the fact that terrorists might seek to acquire such arms, the Assembly would call on all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means, according to a draft resolution entitled “Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction” (document A/C.1/58/L.35).

The Assembly would urge Member States to take and strengthen national measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring such weapons, their delivery means, and materials and technologies related to their manufacture.  It would invite them to inform the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, of measures taken in that regard.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Afghanistan, Bhutan, Colombia, India, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Solomon Islands and Sri Lanka.

A draft decision sponsored by Germany on consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures (document A/C.1/58/L.17) would have the Assembly decide to defer consideration of that item to its next session and to consider it every two years in the future.

Another draft decision sponsored by Malaysia on behalf of NAM on a review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security (document A/C.1/58/L.30) would have the Assembly decide to include that item on its next provisional agenda.

A draft resolution sponsored by Algeria on strengthening security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region (document A/C.1/58/L.42) would have the Assembly reaffirm that security in that region was closely linked to European security, as well as to international peace and security. 

The 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 there through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination.

It, therefore, would call for full adherence to the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the relevant resolutions.  It would also call on all States of the region to adhere to all the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and cooperation in the region.

General Statements

VOLKER HEINSBERG (Germany), speaking on the draft decision on verification (document A/C.1/58/L.48), said he attached particular importance to that draft, which addressed a key aspect of the issue of compliance with existing multilateral treaties.  Committed efforts were required to strengthen existing verification regimes, with a view to enhancing the detectability of significant violations.  In particular, greater emphasis must be placed on non-routine inspections, in order to respond effectively and swiftly to concerns regarding non-compliance and ensure that no illicit activities took place outside declared facilities.

He called for a review of existing verification regimes, with view to identifying gaps and, where necessary, promoting the establishment of additional verification instruments.  He supported the retention of the verification and inspection expertise of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), in order to enhance the expertise and capability of the Security Council, which was the final arbiter on the consequences of non-compliance.

Action on Texts

The Committee then approved the draft decision on verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification (document A/C.1/58/L.48).

When the Committee took up the series of drafts in the cluster on the disarmament machinery, the representative of Italy, on behalf of the European Union, speaking about the draft resolution on the report of the DisarmamentCommission (document A/C.1/58/L.20), said the Union attached special importance to the work of the Commission.  That was an important deliberative body, aimed at promoting fruitful multilateral dialogue in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation.  Its inability to make progress this year, at the end of its three-year consideration of two agenda items, had been particularly disappointing. 

He noted that next month, an organizational meeting of the Commission would begin discussions on agenda items for the next period.  It should adopt a more constructive and realistic approach to its next phase of work, in its quest to promote concrete and useful recommendations.  Thus, he supported the draft resolution.

Then, the Committee approved the draft resolution on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (document A/C.1/58/L.7).

It next approved the draft resolution on the report of the Disarmament Commission (document A/C.1/58/L.20), without a vote.

Also acting without a vote, it approved the draft resolution on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (document A/C.1/58/L.21).

Speaking after the vote on the draft on the report of the Disarmament Commission, the representative of the United States said he was mindful of the potential contribution of that body to international peace and security, and so he had joined consensus.  However, his delegation had been disappointed that the Commission had failed this year, after several years of work, to produce agreed conclusions on either of the two important topics under discussion.

He said that, if the Commission was to “break away from that cycle of futility”, it must start to address topics relevant to current security concerns and become sufficiently focused.  He hoped the organizational meeting next month would identify realistic and relevant issues for the Commission to address during its next three-year cycle.

Similarly, the representative of Canada said she had consistently reiterated her expectation that the available international instruments should be used to better effect.  In that context, her delegation had called for the revitalization of the Disarmament Commission.  Properly utilized, it had proven itself capable of producing substantive and valuable contributions to the disarmament discourse, including the 16 verification principles.  There was no reason why it could not make a similar contribution in the future.

She said she was deeply disappointed, as was the European Union and the United States, with the Commission’s performance, in particular its failure to agree on a substantive report, to be endorsed by the Committee.  Moreover, no substantive items were discussed or included in the draft resolution.  She sought further discussion on key disarmament issues by, first, collectively identifying issues for constructive exchange during the Commission’s coming session.  Delegations should also reflect, in the week ahead, on how to ensure that the session was effective and to convey their ideas to the bureau.

Turning to cluster 8, on other disarmament measures, the Committee took up the draft resolution on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security (document A/C.1/58/L.3). It was approved without a vote.

The Committee then took action on the draft resolution on implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace (document A/C.1/58/L.24). It was approved by a recorded vote of 110 in favour to 3 against (France, United Kingdom, United States), with 42 abstentions.  (Annex I)

Turning to the draft decision on the relationship between disarmament and development (document A/C.1/58/L.29), the Committee approved it by a recorded vote of 157 in favour to 1 against (United States), with 2 abstentions (France, Israel). (Annex II)

The Committee then took up the draft resolution on the role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament (document A/C.1/58/L.33).  It was approved by a recorded vote of 94 in favour to 47 against, with 18 abstentions.  (Annex III)

The Committee, acting on the draft resolution on measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction (document A/C.1/58/L.35), approved it without a vote.

Speaking after the vote on the terrorism draft resolution, the representative of Pakistan said that, in view of the enormity and scale of threats posed by terrorists, there was an urgent need to ensure that weapons of mass destruction did not fall into their hands, for that would have catastrophic consequences.  The nature and complexity of that threat warranted a multi-pronged response, particularly through the complete elimination of all mass destruction weapons, including nuclear weapons.  The Member States were fully cognizant of the fact that chemical and biological weapons posed a more immediate threat, in view of their relatively easy manufacture and transport processes.  That fact had been borne out by the scientific community.

He said, therefore, that there was urgent need to address those issues through full compliance and further strengthening of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention, and their verification and inspection regimes.  While, he fully agreed with the objectives of the resolution, there was also a need to address the underlying causes of terrorism, which lay in injustice and deprivation.  He hoped that, in the future, all of those aspects would be taken into account by the sponsors of the draft.

Speaking on the draft on the relationship between disarmament and development, the representative of the United States said, of the decision to include the item in next year’s agenda, he continued to believe that disarmament and development were two distinct issues that did not lend themselves to being linked.  It was for that reason that the United States had not participated in the 1987 Conference on that matter and, accordingly, would not consider itself bound by the declaration contained in the final document of that Conference.

The representative of Israel, speaking on the terrorism draft congratulated India on that initiative.  Over the last few years, terrorists had caused the death of thousands of innocent victims.  Among all forms of terrorism, suicide terrorists had proved to be a strategic tool in the hands of those interested in preventing coexistence, reconciliation and peace.  The danger posed by terrorists was doubled by the proliferation activities of States supporting it.

He said that when those States continued in efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction and to proliferate them, the risk to global and regional stability was unacceptable and required an urgent response.  He had been encouraged by the growing awareness of that alarming problem, as reflected in several concrete initiatives.  He also welcomed the recent initiative of some members of the Conference on Disarmament and of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) to hold a seminar in Geneva on the link between weapon of mass destruction and terrorism.

The struggle against terrorism and its supporters demanded international efforts to stop the illicit trafficking of arms and explosives, and dual-use goods related to weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, he said.  The proliferation of such items should not be accepted or treated lightly, especially when that involved State or non-State supporters of terrorism.  He called on all States to refrain from any transfer of weapons of mass destruction-related items to terrorist groups and to ensure that their territory was not used as a platform for those items and technologies for terrorists, or for those who might “re–transfer” them to terrorists.

Also speaking on that draft, the representative of the Russian Federation said that the problem of preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction was both urgent and important.  In his statement to the General Assembly, President Putin had emphasized that the spread of those weapons and their delivery means remained an important challenge, and their acquisition by terrorists was the most dangerous of those issues. 

He said that the path to rooting out those threats was in, further universalizing existing non-proliferation regimes, a strengthening of international verification instruments, the introduction of safe technologies in nuclear production and the nuclear power industry, in the relinquishing by States of superfluous arsenals and military programmes likely to upset the military balance and provoke an arms race.  He supported the consensus on the text.  He was also convinced that the problem of the spread of weapons of mass destruction, including the prevention of all forms of those weapons from falling into terrorist hands, must be resolved, not only in the General Assembly, but also in the Security Council, by the drafting of appropriate resolutions.

The representative of Myanmar said he wished to join the list of co-sponsors of the draft resolution on the role of science and technology.

The United States’ representative said he had gladly joined the consensus adoption of the terrorism text.  That important draft recognized the urgent threat to international peace and security posed by the prospect of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists, the world’s most dangerous people.  In 2002, resolution 57/83, which, for the first time, had focused the Committee’s attention on the weapons of mass destruction-terrorist nexus, had requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on measures for “tackling the global threat posed by terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction” and to compile them into a report to the Assembly at the current session.

He said he had been pleased by the response to that invitation.  This year’s resolution again asked the Secretary-General to seek Member States’ views on ways to deal with the weapons of mass destruction-terrorist threat, and he encouraged all delegations to share their ideas and accomplishments in that area.

The Committee’s text helpfully acknowledged the need for concerted national, regional and international efforts to confront that threat, he said.  Unfortunately, as everyone had come to learn, no civilized nation was immune from the barbarity of terrorism.  Both, the current resolution and its predecessor had sent a positive sign that the First Committee was prepared to respond to that threat to peace in a serious way and on a consensus basis.

Also speaking after the vote, the representative of Brazil said the adoption by consensus of the draft on measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction showed the importance the entire international community attached to that theme.  He added that the best way to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction was to totally eliminate such arms, including nuclear weapons.  In fact, that was one of the main reasons his delegation continued to advocate nuclear disarmament throughout the world.

Turning to cluster 9, on related matters of disarmament and international security, the Committee approved the draft decision on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures (document A/C.1/58/L.17) without a vote.

The Committee then took up the draft decision on the review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security (document A/C.1/58/L.30).

After the Chairman declared that the draft had been approved without a vote, the representative of the United States took the floor to request a recorded vote.  The Chairman responded that, earlier, he had not received any indication from any delegation that a vote would be requested on that draft.  However, he said he could put the matter before the Committee.

The United States representative said he had been under the impression that there would be a vote because that was what his delegation had been told by the Secretariat.  Clearly, there had been a misunderstanding.  However, he would not pursue the matter at this time.

The draft decision was thus approved without a vote.

The draft resolution on strengthening security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region (document A/C.1/58/L.42) was then approved without a vote.

ANNEX I

Vote on Indian Ocean

The draft resolution on implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace (document A/C.1/58/L.24) was approved by a recorded vote of 110 in favour to 3 against, with 42 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  France, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining:  Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey.

Absent:  Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan.

ANNEX II

Vote on Disarmament and Development

The draft resolution on the relationship between disarmament and development (document A/C.1/58/L.29) was approved by a recorded vote of 157 in favour to 1 against, with 2 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  United States.

Abstaining:  France, Israel.

Absent:  Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan.

ANNEX III

Vote on Science and Technology

The draft resolution on the role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament (document A/C.1/58/L.33) was approved by a recorded vote of 94 in favour to 47 against, with 18 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Timor-Leste, 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, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining:  Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Brazil, Japan, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay.

Absent:  Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

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