In 79 Separate Recorded Votes, First Committee Approves 24 Drafts on Nuclear Weapons, Including Traditional Text on Road Map to Nuclear-Weapon-Free World
Reflecting an escalating security crisis, described by many delegations in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) as more volatile than during the cold war, and a retrenchment of narrow political interests, a week of action began on 80 proposals today, with 24 texts on nuclear weapons requiring 79 separate recorded votes for passage.
By a vote of 145 in favour to 6 against (China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Syria), with 29 abstentions, the disarmament community approved a wide-ranging text on steps to building a common road map towards a world without nuclear weapons, which would have the General Assembly urge all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again.
The draft resolution (document A/C.1/79/L.41) calls on all States, particularly nuclear-weapon States, to commit to further identifying, exploring and implementing effective measures needed to mitigate risks relating to nuclear weapons use that arise from miscalculation, misperception, miscommunication or accidents and, among other steps, to maintain the practice of not targeting each other with nuclear weapons, and keep them at the lowest possible alert levels.
Further to the text, the Assembly would call on the Conference on Disarmament to immediately commence negotiations on an effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. It would urge all States that have yet to sign and/or ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), particularly now nine States listed in its Annex 2 whose ratification is required for the Treaty’s entry into force.
Notably, the draft drew much attention, as evidenced by the requests of several delegations for separate recorded votes on 12 of its preambular paragraphs and six operative paragraphs, prior to its approval as whole.
The Committee approved a new draft on nuclear war effects and scientific research (document A/C.1/79/L.39), which would establish an independent Scientific Panel on the effects of nuclear war. The Panel would be tasked with examining the physical effects and societal consequences of a nuclear war on a local, regional and planetary scale, in the days-weeks-decades following nuclear war, and that it publish a comprehensive report, making key conclusions and identifying areas requiring future research. It was approved by a recorded vote of 144 in favour to 3 against (France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom), with 30 abstentions.
Also new was a draft resolution on a comprehensive study of the question of nuclear-weapon-free zones in all its aspects (document A/C.1/79/L.68/Rev.1), which would request the Secretary-General to convene a group of up to 25 experts to prepare a new comprehensive study on the question of such zones, aimed at assessing the current status of existing and potential zones, as well as examining options and recommendations towards strengthening existing ones and the possible establishment of new ones, including in the Middle East. It was approved by a recorded vote of 172 in favour to 2 against (Argentina, Israel), with 3 abstentions (Armenia, Central African Republic, Fiji).
Two drafts were approved on the Middle East. The first (document A/C.1/79/L.1), by a recorded vote of 175 to 2 (Argentina, Israel), with 2 abstentions (United States, Cameroon), calls on all parties concerned in the region to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for implementing the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone there and, pending its establishment, declare that they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of the zone.
A text on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East (document A/C.1/79/L.2) would call for immediate steps towards the full implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and call on Israel to accede to the Treaty without further delay, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, to renounce possession of those weapons and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope IAEA safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security. It was approved by a recorded vote of 148 in favour to 5 against (Argentina, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Palau, United States), with 30 abstentions.
The following drafts were also approved by recorded votes: global arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/79/L.10), 117 in favour to none against, with 64 abstentions; Hague Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation (document A/C.1/79/L.16), 167 in favour, to 1 against (Iran), with 11 abstentions; advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/79/L.25), 130 in favour to 35 against, with 17 abstentions; reducing nuclear danger (document A/C.1/79/L.27), 120 in favour, to 50 against, with 12 abstentions; Convention on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (document A/C.1/79/L.28), 118 in favour, to 51 against, with 12 abstentions; a treaty banning fissile material production for nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/79/L.31), 173 in favour to 2 against (Iran, Pakistan), with 8 abstentions (China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Israel, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Syria); and missiles (document A/C.1/79/L.32), 155 in favour to 6 against (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, Ukraine, United States), with 11 abstentions.
Also, ethical imperatives for a nuclear weapon free world (document A/C.1/79/L.35) 130 in favour to 39 against, with 11 abstentions; humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/79/L.36), 136 in favour to 11 against, with 35 abstentions; Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (document A/C.1/79/L.37), 122 in favour to 44 against, with 14 abstentions; universal declaration on a nuclear-weapon-free world (document A/C.1/79/L.38/Rev.1), 131 in favour to 26 against, with 23 abstentions; 2013 General Assembly high-level meeting on nuclear disarmament (document A/C.1/79/L.49), 138 in favour to 35 against, with 9 abstentions (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Georgia, Iceland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland); nuclear disarmament (document A/C.1/79/ L.56), 116 in favour to 43 against, with 20 abstentions; Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (document A/C.1/79/L.57), 177 in favour to none against, with 5 abstentions (Central African Republic, India, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, Syria), and nuclear disarmament verification (document A/C.1/79/L.67), 173 in favour to 1 against (Russian Federation), with 2 abstentions (Iran, Sudan).
Approved without votes were texts on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia (document A/C.1/79/L.5), Mongolia’s international security and nuclear- weapon-free status (document A/C.1/79/L.17), and the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (document A/C.1/79/L.18).
Several delegations delivered general statements, including Canada’s representative, also speaking also for Germany and the Netherlands, who drew attention to “L.31” on a fissile material ban. The speaker urged tangible, verifiable steps advancing nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including by controlling and eliminating fissile material for nuclear weapons. States that do not possess nuclear weapons already have controls in place that amount to a de facto fissile treaty. Those that produce and possess fissile material for nuclear weapons must take the initiative on this and the broader UN membership should hold them to account without exception.
New Zealand’s representative, speaking also on behalf of Australia and Mexico — co-penholders of the resolution on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, “L.57” — underscored the Treaty’s political and moral weight, which has contributed to moratoriums on nuclear testing by almost all States. She stressed that the global norm against testing should not be taken for granted until it becomes legally binding, she urged remaining Annex II States to take decisive steps to join the Treaty without delay or preconditions.
Ireland’s representative said his country and New Zealand have proposed the convening by the UN Secretary-General of a new scientific panel of 21 experts to examine the effects of a nuclear war, as contained in “L.39”. Unlike in other areas, the UN has not produced for some time a global, publicly accessible view of the effects of nuclear war, based on empirical research. He envisages this as a one-time effort, which will result in the delivery of a final report to the First Committee in 2027.
The representative of the European Union, speaking in its capacity as observer, noted that support for peace and stability in the entire Middle East remains a strategic priority of the bloc and called on all Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) States parties to further efforts to build an inclusive and consensus-based process towards a nuclear-weapon-free zone, which includes all States of the region, takes into account all their security concerns, and covers all weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
Japan’s representative, saying that the threat of nuclear weapons use is greater than at any time since the height of the cold war, spotlighted the NPT’s importance and urged more emphasis on the nuclear disarmament pillar. On “L.41”, she said, paragraphs were strengthened on enhancing transparency and accountability by including more concrete measures, and the importance of substantial progress towards a fissile material cut-off treaty was as well.
Concerning “L.68” on a study of the question of nuclear-weapon-free zones, Brazil, said its speaker, is confident the new draft can fulfil the need to move beyond differences and work on concrete and practical action to help advance disarmament discussions. The study’s starting point should be that there is no “one size fits all” model and it aims to be useful to anyone interested in advancing the discussions.
The representative of Kazakhstan said that the draft resolution Universal Declaration of the Achievement of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World, “L.38/Rev.1”, is more than symbolic by emphasizing that multilateralism and confidence-building measures are essential to nuclear disarmament progress. The text calls for Member States to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in security doctrines, reallocate resources towards sustainable development and undertake concrete verifiable disarmament measures.
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