IMPLEMENTATION OF UNILATERAL PLANS TO BUILD GLOBAL MISSILE DEFENCE WHILE IGNORING SECURITY INTERESTS OF OTHERS WOULD UPSET BALANCE OF FORCES, FIRST COMMITTEE TOLD

Sixty-second General Assembly

First Committee

4^th Meeting (AM)

IMPLEMENTATION OF UNILATERAL PLANS TO BUILD GLOBAL MISSILE DEFENCE WHILE IGNORING

SECURITY INTERESTS OF OTHERS WOULD UPSET BALANCE OF FORCES, FIRST COMMITTEE TOLD

Russian Federation Warns Deployment of United States Anti-Ballistic Missile

System in Czech Republic, Poland, Outer Space, Would Adversely Affect Disarmament

Stressing the need to take into account the inherent link between strategic offensive and defensive missile armaments in the nuclear disarmament process, the Russian Federation today asserted in the Disarmament Committee that the implementation of unilateral plans to build a global missile defence system while ignoring the security interests of other States would upset the balance of forces.

Specifically, that country’s representative said during the general debate that the deployment of a global United States anti-ballistic missile system in the Czech Republic and Poland, as well as the appearance of anti-ballistic missile strike weapons in outer space, would adversely affect the disarmament process.

The Russian Federation was ready, along with other interested countries, to analyze potential missile threats up to the year 2020, and to consider the issue of establishing a regional system of objective monitoring of the strategic situation, he said, careful to note that that proposal was not meant to complement the United States plans to deploy a global anti-ballistic missile defence base in Europe, but rather, was an alternative to such plans.

The 1988 United States-(former) Soviet Union Treaty on the Elimination of Medium and Shorter Range Missiles remained important for maintaining strategic security and stability, he said, calling on all countries, primarily those with missile capabilities, to consider further strengthening of the Treaty’s regime.

Recent years had seen a drastic reduction of nuclear weapons, he said.  Starting from 1991, his country’s nuclear arsenal had been reduced five-fold and the total stockpiles of non-strategic nuclear weapons by three quarters.  The Moscow Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions and the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START) were being implemented.  In view of the expiration of START in 2009, his country was maintaining a dialogue with the United States on a new arrangement to replace it.

Concern over military spending emerged today, with some speakers suggesting that the funds should be used instead to further economic development and to reach the Millennium Development Goals, rather than to increase weapons stockpiles.  Tunisia’s representative, for example, said his country had always believed that military spending was carried out at the expense of the basic needs of peoples around the world.  Funds used on military activities should be used, instead, to further development and economic growth.

Similarly, Cuba’s representative said that the world’s resources were being “squandered” on new weapons, and should be diverted to the fight against poverty and marginalization.  He said that at least half of the current military expenditures –- now at an estimated $1.2 trillion -- should be used to meet the needs of economic and social development.  The countries of the Non-Aligned Movement would submit a resolution on the relationship between disarmament and development, and, he hoped that the only country that had voted against it last year would reconsider its position. 

The landmines scourge also dominated the discussion.  Speakers pointed out that those weapons were not only a security threat, but also a humanitarian problem, with a severe impact on economics and development as well.  Cambodia’s  representative said his country remained one of the most heavily mined in the world, with those weapons hidden in thousands of square kilometres of land, threatening nearly half of the country’s population.  Up to July this year, more than 1.5 million landmines had been cleared from its territory.  

With that in mind, the representative called upon all States to become party to the Mine-Ban Convention (Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction), and to take bold steps to renounce those weapons forever. 

As another country heavily affected by landmines, the representative of Angola stressed the vital importance of mine clearance, as well as the need for assistance provided by the international community, including by national and international non-governmental organizations engaged in education and prevention of landmine accidents.  One lesson learned from the country’s experience was the need for an appropriate mechanism to translate donors’ pledges into practice.

Statements were also made by Indonesia, New Zealand, Viet Nam, Myanmar, Colombia, Bangladesh, Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria (on behalf of the African Group) and Bahrain.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 11 October to continue its general debate.

Background

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this morning to continue its general debate on all disarmament and international security agenda items before the General Assembly.  (For background of the Committee’s session and a summary of reports before it, see Press Releases GA/DIS/3339 and GA/DIS/3340, respectively.)

Statements

ANATOLY ANTONOV, Director of the Department of Security and Disarmament Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, said that nuclear disarmament was one of the core elements needed for strengthening international security and strategic stability.  Recent years had seen a drastic reduction of nuclear weapons.  Starting from 1991, his country’s nuclear arsenal had been reduced five-fold and the total stockpiles of non-strategic nuclear weapons by three quarters.  The Moscow Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions and the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START) were being implemented.  In view of the expiration of START in 2009, his country was maintaining a dialogue with the United States on a new arrangement to replace it.  The country’s approach on that issue was to try and retain what was useful and operating effectively in the START regime.

On the process of disarmament, he said that it was necessary to take into account the inherent interconnection between strategic offensive and defensive missile armaments.  The implementation of unilateral plans to build a global missile defence system, ignoring the security interests of other States, would upset the balance of forces.  The deployment of a global United States anti-ballistic missile system in the Czech Republic and Poland, as well as the appearance of anti-ballistic missile strike weapons in outer space, would adversely affect the disarmament process.  Russia was ready, along with other interested countries, to analyze potential missile threats up to the year 2020, and to consider the issue of establishing a regional system of objective monitoring of the strategic situation.  That proposal was not meant to complement the United States plans to deploy a global anti-ballistic missile defence base in Europe, but rather, was an alternative to such plans.

The 1988 United States-(former) Soviet Union Treaty on the Elimination of Medium and Shorter Range Missiles remained important for maintaining strategic security and stability, he continued.  The Russian Federation called on all countries, primarily those with missile capabilities, to jointly consider further strengthening of the Treaty’s regime.  The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons remained the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and a key element of international security and stability.  His country’s priority was to ensure its effective strengthening and implementation, in particular, the unconditional implementation of the Treaty provisions at the national level, closing of gaps, further promotion of its universality, strengthening of its resilience, as well as the use of its provisions, in order to promptly and effectively respond to existing challenges and threats.

The ban on nuclear testing would reinforce the nuclear non-proliferation regime, he went on.  A unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing was insufficient to assure the world community that nuclear tests would not resume.  All countries, on which the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) depended, should ratify it as soon as possible.  The Russian Federation also considered the strengthening of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verification activities, and the universalization of the Additional Protocol to the nuclear safeguards agreements with the Agency, to be an important effort in strengthening the non-proliferation regime.  All States that had not yet put into effect the Additional Protocol, and, primarily, those who carried out significant nuclear activities or possessed substantial supplies of nuclear material, should do so without delay.

ADIYATWIDI ADIWOSO ASMADY ( Indonesia) said the future of multilateral diplomacy remained “uncertain”, and it was imperative to overcome setbacks in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation.  The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons continued to play a “crucial role”, and States parties should spare no effort to fully implement its provisions and pursue its universality.  States currently outside the regime should be encouraged to join the Treaty, and he suggested that “nuclear cooperation could be rendered exclusively to parties to the Treaty,” since cooperation with non-State parties undermined the Treaty and discouraged them from joining it.  He stressed that nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, whether in the hands of States or non-State actors, were a threat to humanity, and therefore, “the best way to do away with the danger of nuclear weapons is their complete elimination.”  Some nuclear-weapon States continued to disregard their disarmament obligations, and he vowed that Indonesia would “not relent” in urging them to take the necessary steps.

He noted that debates had remained focused on proliferation risks, as in the cases of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Iran.  He welcomed the “positive developments” in the six-party talks, in particular, the agreement among the parties earlier this month.  He, likewise, welcomed the recent agreement between Iran and the IAEA on a work plan to resolve outstanding nuclear issues.  He called those advances “encouraging signs that peaceful means are being given premium in resolving differences”.  At the same time, non-proliferation and disarmament were “different sides of the same coin”, which must be addressed in a balanced and non-discriminatory manner.  It was also crucial to address those challenges multilaterally, with the United Nations and in keeping with international law.

The establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones was a “positive measure”, and the States parties to the Bangkok Treaty (South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty) intended to table a resolution at this session.  Concerning the peaceful use of nuclear energy, that was vital for improving the well-being of peoples in developing countries, and the international community “should not be sceptical of the activities of certain States” in building peaceful nuclear programmes, which was their inalienable right.  The focus on the threat of weapons of mass destruction and their proliferation should not distract attention from the regulation and reduction of conventional weapons.  Overall, there was a need for greater political will and effort to overcome the impediments in the global disarmament and non-proliferation agenda.

DON MACKAY ( New Zealand) said that a key focus in 2007 had been the effort to find a pathway for the Conference on Disarmament to recommence negotiations.  He congratulated the six presidents of the Conference for their tireless efforts, and for the skill and delicacy with which their proposals had been crafted to accommodate States’ concerns.  Considerable momentum had been created within the Conference, but it had not yet proved sufficient to break through the decade-long stalemate, in which the international community continued to languish.  All delegations should heed the Secretary-General’s call and exercise maximum flexibility in their efforts to commence substantive negotiations as early as possible in 2008.

He stressed that creating a world safe from nuclear weapons remained one of the international community’s most urgent priorities.  It was clear that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons required a sense of renewed ownership and energy from all States parties, in support of its full implementation.  New Zealand looked forward to positive outcomes across the Treaty’s review preparations to ensure that the constructive start to the review process, commenced in Vienna last April, would lead to the achievement of concrete measurable progress at the next Review Conference in 2010.

Along with other members of the international community, New Zealand remained concerned about outstanding questions regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.  That country’s failure to comply fully with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the IAEA was disappointing.   New Zealand continued to call on Iran to comply with those resolutions as a matter of priority.  His country’s strong preference was for a peaceful, negotiated solution to that matter.  At the same time, the recent progress that had been achieved in the six-party plenary and working group process on the Korean peninsular issue had been welcome.  A successful settlement of that longstanding issue would be a significant accomplishment for international peace and security.

KOSAL SEA (Cambodia), aligning himself with the statements made by Indonesia and Myanmar, said it was imperative for all States to fully comply with the existing non-proliferation instruments, in particular with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).  Complete elimination of nuclear weapons was the only way to guarantee against their use and proliferation.

He said that Cambodia, together with the other Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, had worked to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons within and outside the region.  During the fortieth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila in July, the foreign ministers had emphasized the importance of the Treaty of Bangkok, and had discussed ways to implement it.  Ministers had also welcomed the adoption of a plan of action to guide its future implementation.

Landmines were a serious threat to many nations in the developing world, he went on.  Those “silent killers” were not only a security threat, but also a humanitarian problem, and had a severe impact on economies and development.  Cambodia remained one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, with those weapons hidden in thousands of square kilometres of land, threatening nearly half of the country’s population.  Up to July this year, more than 1.5 million landmines had been cleared from its territory.  With that in mind, he called upon all States to become party to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction and to take “bold steps” in renouncing landmines forever. 

He closed by referring to the dangers of small arms, whose use could be sources of terrorism, violence and regional conflicts.  The 2001 United Nations Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons was a cornerstone for the international community to work together on that issue.  His country was deeply grateful to Japan, the European Union and other countries for their assistance in arms control programmes.

HOANG CHI TRUNG ( Viet Nam) aligned himself with the statements made on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement of countries, as well as ASEAN.  Given that today’s world faced local wars and conflicts, terrorism and a nuclear arms race, it was particularly important for all United Nations members to redouble their efforts in the field of disarmament.  The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was the “backbone” of the global non-proliferation regime, and he called on all States parties to fully comply with its provisions.  In particular, he urged nuclear-weapon States to implement the 13 practical steps agreed at the 2000 Review Conference, and he called for a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument on security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon States. 

Praising the work of the IAEA and its safeguards systems, he said that the Agency had played an important role in consolidating and enhancing the verification system for the non-proliferation regime.  Assistance to non-nuclear-weapon States in peaceful uses of nuclear energy constituted an important obligation under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, as that Treaty had confirmed the right of countries to access research, production and use of nuclear energy for non-military purposes.

He noted further that Viet Nam had signed the Additional Protocol to the safeguards agreement with the IAEA on 10 August, becoming the 114^th State party to that instrument.  He praised the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996, and called on the international community to act to operationalize it.  Viet Nam also supported the convening of a fourth General Assembly special session devoted to disarmament.

Nuclear-weapon-free zones were vital to strengthening regional and international security, and to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, he said, adding his hope that concerned countries would create such a zone in the Middle East.  At the regional level, Viet Nam was working closely with the other ASEAN countries to ensure that South-East Asia was a region free from nuclear weapons.  Viet Nam welcomed China’s announcement of its readiness to accede to the Bangkok Treaty’s Protocol, and he called on other nuclear-weapon States to do the same.

U WUNNA MAUNG LWIN ( Myanmar) said that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons had been the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the lack of progress on implementation of its article VI, particularly in the light of the 2000 agreement on the 13 practical steps, was disappointing.  The 2005 Review Conference had concluded without a substantive final document.  Subsequently, there was a lack of reference to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in the outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly.  This year, the First Preparatory Committee Meeting for the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference had been held in Vienna.  Sight should not be lost that the two processes of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation were interrelated and mutually reinforcing.

He said that the existence of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, posed the greatest threat to mankind.  Amid that alarming environment, there were reports that large stocks of nuclear weapons still existed.  The total elimination of nuclear weapons was the only absolute guarantee against their use.  Myanmar had consistently stressed the importance of achieving universal adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and called on all States, particularly the nuclear-weapon States still outside the Test-Ban Treaty, to ratify it as soon as possible.

The establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in various regions of the world was a positive step towards attaining the objectives of global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, he stated.  This year marked the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty. To commemorate that event, ASEAN would table a resolution in the Committee.

On outer space, he said that Myanmar believed that its use for peaceful purposes was a common right of every nation.  The Conference on Disarmament had a primary role to play in addressing that important subject.  His country supported the need to negotiate and conclude, as soon as possible, a legally binding international instrument to prevent the weaponization of outer space, as the existing instruments were inadequate to comprehensively cover that issue.

RODRIGO MALMIERCA DÍAZ (Cuba), supporting the statement made on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said that military expenditures, far from decreasing, had increased every year at an accelerated rate, reaching a total of $1.204 trillion.  He attributed that increase mainly to the dramatic growth of the United State’s military budget.  The United States alone spent as much on weaponry as the rest of the world together, and produced 63 per cent of the weapons sold worldwide.  That spending was taking place in an international context increasingly marked by “hegemony, unilateralism, interventionism”. 

He said that resources were being “squandered” on new weapons, and that funds could be better used to fight poverty and marginalization.  For example, 10 per cent of the current military expenditures would be enough to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, while the resources devoted to armaments could feed the world’s 852 million hungry people, or supply 40 years’ worth of medicine to the world’s 40 million HIV/AIDS patients.  Therefore, he proposed devoting at least half of the current military expenditures to meet the needs of economic and social development.  The countries of the Non-Aligned Movement would submit a resolution on the relationship between disarmament and development, and he hoped that the only country that voted against it last year would reconsider its position.

Although the cold war was over, there were still 30,000 nuclear weapons in the world, 12,000 of which were ready for immediate use, he said.  The mere existence of such weapons posed a “grave danger” to international peace and security.  Cuba rejected the “selective approach of non-proliferation”, which some had advocated; “ Cuba rejects the selective application of the NPT.”  That issue, relative to nuclear disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, could not continue to be disregarded.  The inalienable right of States to the peaceful use of nuclear energy must be respected.  Meanwhile, the lack of progress in the implementation of the 13 practical measures, agreed in 2000, must be reviewed, and the lack of a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument on security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon States must be addressed.

Further, there was a need to take practical steps to prevent some countries from continuing to develop and use increasingly deadly conventional weapons.  The Committee must address concerns about the use of arms and ammunitions containing depleted uranium.  He supported the Movement’s call to convene a fourth special session devoted to Disarmament, and he regretted that the open-ended working group on the topic had not fulfilled its mandate, owing to one country’s strong opposition.  The Non-Aligned countries would submit a new draft resolution on that issue.  Hopefully, the United States would not continue to oppose it.  He reiterated Cuba’s commitment to contribute, to the fullest extent possible, to the Committee’s successful outcome.

CLAUDIA BLUM DE BARBERI ( Colombia) said that the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons remained a serious problem.  Every year, small arms accounted for the loss of lives of thousands of people worldwide.  More progress was still needed in the strategies to prevent, combat and eradicate that scourge.  The excessive accumulation and widespread use of those weapons constituted a destabilizing component in many regions.  Colombia reiterated its position regarding the need for a legally binding instrument on conventional weapons, particularly small arms, so as to permit the licit small arms and light weapons trade to be overseen through all the steps in the chain of production to distribution.  That would stop the diversion of those weapons towards illicit channels.  Colombia had participated actively in the discussion on an arms trade treaty and had submitted its views on the matter to the Secretary-General.

On nuclear weapons, she said her country had joined in commemorating the fortieth anniversary of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) this year.  That Treaty had helped the Latin American and Caribbean region to become a pioneer among nuclear-weapon-free zones and had contributed to the stability of a large area of the planet.  Colombia believed that every initiative aimed at creating new nuclear-weapon-free zones was a step forward towards the common goal of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

VIRGILIO MARQUES FARIA (Angola) said that the adoption of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) was indeed a very important step forward in the fight against the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their delivery means.  However, if the implementation of that important text was to succeed, international, regional and subregional institutions must play their role in assisting developing countries in their implementation efforts.  Furthermore, it was important to reinforce the monitoring of the application of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to move towards a global disarmament process and to discourage the new arms race.  In Angola, the Parliament had established a National Commission and adopted legal measures, which was a clear demonstration of the Government’s commitment to the application of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

He said that the illicit traffic in and proliferation of small arms and light weapons was also a matter of great international concern, due particularly to the linkage between those weapons and armed conflicts, political destabilization and international and transnational organized crime.  The illicit trade in and proliferation of small arms and light weapons should be faced collectively by the international community.  As a country heavily affected by landmines, Angola placed high priority on mine clearance.  In that regard, it underlined the importance of the assistance provided by the international community, including by national and international non-governmental organizations engaged in education and prevention of accidents caused by landmines.  Their work had already affected thousands of people.  One of the lessons learned from the country’s experience was the need to have an appropriate mechanism to gather donors and to translate pledges and political will into practice.

HABIB MANSOUR ( Tunisia), aligning himself with the statement made on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and with the statement to be made on behalf of the African Group, called the present period a critical one, and urged a re-examination of the progress made on disarmament.  Tunisia had always believed that military spending was carried out at the expense of the basic needs of peoples around the world.  Funds used on military activities could, instead, further development and economic growth.  At the same time, the difficulties of disarmament should not discourage the international community from pursuing multilateral solutions, in accordance with the United Nations Charter.

While the outcome of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Review Conference had been modest, he nevertheless hoped that future sessions would strengthen international understanding and would lead to implementation of that Treaty.  There had so far been a lack of progress, particularly in the realization of article VI, concerning nuclear disarmament.  In that light, he called upon the nuclear-weapon States to keep the promises made on disarmament, and hoped to see an accelerated negotiation process, in order to put concrete disarmament measures into practice.  Meanwhile, non-nuclear-weapon States had the right to effective guarantees against the threat of use or use of nuclear arms.  One of the most important measures needed to increase the efficacy of the Non-Proliferation Treaty was to conclude negotiations on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), as its failure to enter into force was a worrying.

Tunisia was honoured to preside over the 2008 Conference on Disarmament.  It was time, too, to convene a fourth special session of the General Assembly on disarmament, with a view to identifying means of relaunching the disarmament process.

Touching on other matters important to Tunisia, he said that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones was a means of promoting non-proliferation and disarmament at regional and international levels.  In the Middle East, certain parties had refused to accede to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and to put their nuclear installations under the system of guarantees of the IAEA, despite numerous appeals by neighbouring States and the United Nations.  He appealed to the international community to take urgent measures for the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in that region.  Tunisia had been quick to ratify the Mine Ban Convention (Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction), and hoped for its universalization.  He, likewise, called for the realization of the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention (Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons) in particular, in the area of international cooperation on peaceful chemical activities.  Tunisia had actively contributed to joint efforts among Mediterranean countries to create a zone of dialogue and cooperation in the region.  It was also supporting the work of the African Union and its institutions, and had contributed, since the 1960s, to peacekeeping efforts worldwide, particularly in Africa.

ISMAT JAHAN ( Bangladesh) said that the greatest threat to humanity came from the continued existence of weapons of mass destruction. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) were the cornerstones of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime, and, as such, the international community must ensure their full universality.  It was a matter of great regret that, although the Non-Proliferation Treaty began in 1968 with great expectations, it had not been able to live up to those.  Article IV of that Treaty guaranteed the inalienable right of States to develop, research, produce and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.  That right needed to be applied without discrimination, and the rights of non-nuclear-weapon States to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and technology must be upheld.  Bangladesh was constitutionally committed to disarmament and non-proliferation, and its records were impeccable.  The country had consciously and unconditionally decided to remain non-nuclear, and it had been the first “Annex 2” nation in South Asia to have signed and ratified the Test-Ban Treaty.  It was also party to almost all the disarmament-related treaties.

She said her country was concerned that a huge number of civilians, including women and children, still fell victim to anti-personnel landmines in conflict and post-conflict situations around the world.  Bangladesh called on those States that had not yet done so to become party to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.  Her country had destroyed all its stockpiles of landmines in fulfilment of its commitment to the international landmines instruments.  The international community should provide assistance for landmine clearance operations, as well as for rehabilitating victims.   Bangladesh also continued to believe that a fissile material cut-off treaty was ripe for negotiation.  It expected that, in the upcoming session of the Conference on Disarmament, negotiations would conclude on an agreement on the complete elimination of such material.

Bangladesh was also concerned at the continued development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile defence systems and the pursuit of advanced military technologies capable of deployment in outer space, she said.  In that regard, it reiterated its call for resumption of work on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, in the framework of the Disarmament Conference.

YOUCEF YOUSFI (Algeria), aligning himself with the statement made on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and with the statement to be made on behalf of the African Group, said that, as the present session opened, a number of old questions remained about the deadlock in the multilateral field of disarmament.  There were also new threats to the international community, and it was necessary to introduce a “fundamental change in attitudes”, in order to create a system of international security.  Respect for the rule of law, and for multilateralism, were important tools in finding a solution, and the full elimination of weapons of mass destruction was the sole guarantee for security.

Towards that goal, he stressed the need to implement the 13 measures agreed on at the 2000 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Review Conference.  There was also a need to adopt a balanced programme of work for the Conference on Disarmament.  Nuclear-weapon-free zones could strengthen international peace and security, and those contributed to non-proliferation, while providing an important confidence-building measure.  Praising such zones in Latin America, the South Pacific, Africa and elsewhere, he said that Algeria was concerned that there had been no progress in the creation of such a zone in the Middle East.  He called on the international community to send a strong signal to Israel that it must follow international law and remove the only obstacle to achieving a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, and thereby contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Algeria was dedicated to fulfilling all its obligations under regional and international instruments, and the country would spare no effort to sustain and promote disarmament and non-proliferation initiatives, he said.  In that spirit, Algeria would submit a resolution on reinforcement of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region.  He repeated his hopes for the success of the Committee in all its work.

PHILIP RICHARD O. OWADE ( Kenya) reiterated the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral negotiating forum for disarmament treaties.  As a member of the Conference, Kenya had been concerned by the lack of progress for nearly a decade.  Hopefully, the tremendous efforts by the 2006 presidents of the Conference would bear fruit in 2007, so that members could embark on substantive work, based on the principle of balance and non-selectivity.  Kenya joined the call for the convening of a fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament.

He agreed with other speakers today that conventional weapons continued to have devastating impacts, especially in developing countries.  In that regard, Kenya reaffirmed its support for the 2001 United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat, and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.  The country continued to play a key role among the signatories to the Nairobi Declaration, which concerned the problem of proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa.  The regional centre for small arms and light weapons had done considerable work in harmonizing and coordinating the activities of Member States in the reduction of those weapons.  Kenya supported the initiatives taken by a number of countries to advance the objectives of the 2001 Action Programme.

LAWRENCE OBISAKIN (Nigeria), speaking on behalf of the African Group, said that the Group remained strongly committed to the achievement of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.  It would also continue to pursue the goals of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in all its aspects until that objective was attained.  Delegations should demonstrate the necessary political will to enhance progress in that regard, as nuclear weapons posed the greatest danger to mankind.  It was imperative, therefore, that the international community commence, without further delay, multilateral negotiations on a convention banning nuclear weapons. 

Pending that, he called on the nuclear-weapon States to commit themselves to stopping the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems.  Pending the total elimination of those weapons, a legally binding international instrument should be established under which the nuclear-weapon States undertook not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon States.  Any nuclear disarmament process should be irreversible, transparent and verifiable, in order for it to be meaningful and effective.

He also reiterated the African Group’s long-standing support for the total cessation of all nuclear tests.  The Group also stressed the significance of universal adherence to the Test-Ban Treaty (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty), including by all nuclear-weapon States, as that would contribute to nuclear disarmament.  Existing multilateral arms control and disarmament agreements should be strengthened by ensuring their full compliance and effective implementation, including their universality.  Strengthening the disarmament machinery was a means of advancing the process of nuclear disarmament, and he called on the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a work programme as soon as possible.

The concept of internationally recognised nuclear-weapon-free zones established on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regions concerned also had the Group’s support, he said.  The Group called for the ratification of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba), so that it could enter into force without delay.  Additionally, the Group restated its call for the full implementation of the 2001 Programme of Action on small arms as a key element in promoting long-term security and creating conditions for sustainable development in many developing countries, especially in Africa.  Cognizant of the fact that illicit arms brokering played a significant role in the illicit arms trade, it called for an effective international brokering regime.

TAWFEEQ ALMANSOOR ( Bahrain) applauded the statement made by Sergio Duarte, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.  In recent years, there had been an attempt on the part of certain States to secure nuclear weapons.  There was also a risk that such weapons would be acquired by terrorists, and that would lead to the spread of terror and increased insecurity around the globe.  He called for the full implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, without any exemption or exception.  All provisions must be respected.  Non-nuclear-weapon States also had the right to assurances that nuclear weapons would not be used against them.  

He said his country was dedicated to disarmament, and, as such, had acceded to many of the relevant conventions and international treaties.  It was also mindful of the need to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, and he called on the international community and the United Nations to bring pressure to bear on Israel, as the only State in the region that had not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

On the nuclear issue in Iran, Bahrain called for a peaceful solution through direct negotiations with that country, in order to avoid increased tensions in the region, he said.  He called on Iran to demonstrate more transparency and to cooperate with the IAEA, thereby building the international community’s and the region’s confidence in the country’s nuclear programme.   Bahrain affirmed the right of all States to use energy for peaceful purposes, under IAEA supervision.

He said the world was witnessing many conflicts because of the trafficking in small weapons.  Those arms were a source of instability worldwide.  The 2001 Action Programme should be implemented by all States.  He welcomed the Secretary-General’s quest to revitalize disarmament and non-proliferation efforts.  Global cooperation was needed to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction and to free it from conflict and war, creating peace for future generations.

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For information media • not an official record