GA/DIS/3185

DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE HEARS INTRODUCTION OF FIVE DRAFT RESOLUTIONS, INCLUDING TEXT ON ASSURANCES FOR NON-NUCLEAR-WEAPON STATES

The General Assembly would reaffirm the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, while acknowledging the difficulties in evolving a common approach, according to one of five draft resolutions introduced this morning in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

By further terms of the draft, introduced by the representative of Pakistan, the Assembly would appeal to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character. The Assembly would recommend that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or formula and that the various alternative approaches be further explored in order to overcome the difficulties.

The Committee also heard introductions on the following drafts: establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons); Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention); and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa.

According to the text introduced by the representative of Egypt on the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, the Assembly would urge all parties directly concerned to seriously consider taking the practical and urgent steps required to implement that proposal and, as a means of promoting that objective, invite the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). It would call upon all countries of the region, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

A draft introduced by the representative of Sweden on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons would have the Assembly call upon all States that had yet to do so to take measures to become parties to the Convention and its Protocols. It would also call on successor States to take appropriate measures, so that, ultimately, adherence to those instruments would be universal.

First Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/DIS/3185 19th Meeting (AM) 20 October 2000

According to the draft on the Ottawa Convention, the Assembly would urge all States that had signed, but not ratified, the Convention to do so without delay. It would renew its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine-awareness programmes, and the removal and assurance of the destruction of anti-personnel mines worldwide. The representative of Norway introduced the text.

The Assembly would reaffirm its strong support for the revitalization of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and emphasize the need to provide it with resources to enable it to strengthen its activities and carry out its programmes, by the terms of a draft introduced by the representative of Lesotho, on behalf of the African Group of countries.

The representatives of Canada, Australia, Slovakia, Netherlands, Iraq and South Africa commented on the draft resolutions.

Participating in the thematic discussion were the representatives of the Republic of the Congo, Brazil (on behalf of the Southern Common Market countries), Colombia (on behalf of the Rio Group), and Swaziland.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue the second stage of its work.

First Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/DIS/3185 19th Meeting (AM) 20 October 2000

Committee Work Programme

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met this morning to continue its second phase of work, namely a thematic discussion on disarmament and security items as well as the introduction and consideration of related draft resolutions. The discussion, which began on Friday, 13 October, will conclude on 23 October.

The subjects to be covered in the thematic discussion are as follows: nuclear weapons; other weapons of mass destruction; the disarmament aspects of outer space; conventional weapons; regional disarmament and security; confidence- building measures, including transparency in armaments; disarmament machinery; other disarmament measures; and, related matters of disarmament and international security. The deadline for submission of the draft resolutions was Friday, 13 October. The Committee has received 50 texts.

The Committee was expected to hear introductions of drafts on the following: establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons); Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention); and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa.

According to the draft resolution on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (document A/C.1/55/L.14), sponsored by Lesotho and Togo, on behalf of the African Group, the General Assembly would reaffirm its strong support for the revitalization of the Regional Centre, and emphasize the need to provide it with resources to enable it to strengthen its activities and carry out its programmes. It would appeal to all States and international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions to enable the Centre to respond to the numerous requests from Member States.

The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General to continue to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the Centre to facilitate the establishment of close cooperation between the Centre and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), particularly in the area of peace, security and development, and to continue to assist the Director of the Centre in his efforts to stabilize the financial situation of the Centre and revitalize its activities.

By the terms of a draft resolution sponsored by Egypt on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East (document A/C.1/55/L.16), the General Assembly would urge all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and, as a means of promoting that objective, invite the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

By further terms of the resolution, the Assembly would call upon all countries of the region that had not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. It would also invite all countries of the region to declare their support for establishing such a zone and not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices.

According to a draft text on negative security assurances (document A/C.1/55/L.36), the Assembly would reaffirm the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach acceptable to all had also been pointed out. The Assembly would note with satisfaction that there was no objection in the Conference on Disarmament, in principle, to the idea of an international convention to grant such assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach and, in particular, on a common approach acceptable to all had also been pointed out.

The Assembly would appeal to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character. The Assembly would recommend that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or formula and that the various alternative approaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Conference, be further explored in order to overcome the difficulties. It would also recommend that the Conference actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international arrangements, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Viet Nam.

According to a draft text on the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines an on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention) (document A/C.1/55/L.44), the Assembly would urge all States that had signed but not ratified the Convention to do so without delay. The Assembly would urge all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information, as required in article 7 of the Convention, in order to promote transparency and compliance.

In a further provision, the Assembly would renew its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine awareness programmes, and the removal of anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and the assurance of their destruction.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti and Hungary.

Also, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

A draft text on the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons)(document A/C.1/55/L.50) would have the Assembly call upon all States that had not yet done so to take all measures to become parties to the Convention and its Protocols as soon as possible, and particularly to amended Protocol II, with a view to achieving the widest possible adherence to that instrument at an early date. The Assembly would also call upon successor States to take appropriate measures, so that ultimately adherence to those instruments would be universal.

The Assembly would also call upon States parties to the Convention that had not yet done so to express their consent to be bound by the Protocols annexed to the Convention. It would welcome the convening from 11 to 13 December of the second annual conference of States parties to Amended Protocol II, and call upon all such parties to address, at that meeting, the issue of holding the third annual conference in 2001. It would recall the decision of the States parties to the Convention to convene the next review conference no later than 2001, preceded by a preparatory committee, and recommend that the review conference be held in December 2001 in Geneva.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom and the United States.

Statements

BONIFACE LEZONA (Republic of Congo) said that the problem of the illicit circulation and trade in small arms had persisted. His country, which had experienced the pain of war and which now wished to forget that terrible page in its history, was most grateful for today�s debate. Also welcome was the forthcoming Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. In that context, he would participate in a meeting next December aimed at coordinating the African position on the question. At the same time, he joined those working for effective international action to stem the effects of the trade in those weapons. His country had co-sponsored the draft on assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them (document A/C.1/55/L.11), to which the Committee should lend its full support.

STEFFEN D. KONGSTAD (Norway) introduced the draft resolution on the Ottawa Convention (document A/C.1/55/L.44). He said the large number of co-sponsors represented broad and geographically widespread support reflecting the importance attached to the Convention. The problems caused by anti-personnel mines were among the great tragedies of our time. They killed and maimed innocent civilians, including women and children, long after hostilities had ended. As remnants of war, they seriously hampered economic and social development. They denied societies and individuals of basic humanitarian needs and human rights.

There had been several encouraging developments that demonstrated that the Ottawa process and the Convention banning anti-personnel landmines was making a difference, he said. That was shown by the growing number of governments acceding to and fully implementing the Convention, the significantly reduced use of anti-personnel mines, the dramatic drop in the production of such mines, the increased destruction of stockpiled mines, the increased funding for mine action, more land being demined, and the decreasing number of victims.

He said that this year�s draft resolution was an updated version of last year�s resolution. It recalled the second meeting of States parties and corrected the number of States that had formally accepted the obligations of the Convention, which was now 107. It also welcomed the generous offer of the Government of Nicaragua to host the third meeting of the States parties in September 2001 in Managua.

CHRISTOPHER WESTDAL (Canada) congratulated the representative of Norway for the implementation of the Ottawa Convention and the introduction of the relevant draft text. At the recent second meeting of States parties, progress was reviewed in detail and celebrated. More than 100 States had formally accepted the Convention�s obligations and together they had made a difference; mine casualty rates were down, mine clearance was proceeding at an appropriate pace, more help had been provided to mine victims, and donors� allocations had been properly distributed. More than 20 States parties had completed reductions of their mine stockpiles. Given all the good the Convention�s implementation had meant worldwide, the draft text warranted full support.

LES LUCK (Australia), expressing support for the draft resolution on land mines, said that since last year the international community had seen a consolidation of the norms against landmines. There was, however, still a long way to go. Australia recognized the role of Norway in those efforts. The draft resolution would lead to better coordination of mine action activities. The international community should aim for maximum participation in inter-sessional programmes. His country hoped that the draft resolution could be adopted by consensus.

SANTIAGO IRAZABAL MOURO (Brazil) spoke on behalf of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). She said that those countries attached importance to measures designed to regulate the transport of radioactive waste, in keeping with the highest security levels. The relevant Declaration of the IAEA had strengthened regulations concerning the transport of such material, as well as the timely notification of maritime accidents and the payment of damages.

He said he supported the continued improvement by international bodies of all regulations designed to make that transportation safer. The notion of the abuse of rights and the objective of shared responsibility was a good theoretical basis. The regulations set forth by the IAEA were highly satisfying. He urged States that provided that type of transport to ensure that their regulations were governed by those of the Agency and commit themselves to make available important information, such as itineraries.

KALMAN PETOCZ (Slovakia), spoke as Acting President of the first annual conference of States parties to the Amended Protocol II on Prohibitions or Restrictions in the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices, which is annexed to Certain Conventional Weapons. He said that 56 countries had notified of their consent to be bound by the Amended Protocol II. That represented an increase of 10 States since the first annual conference took place from 15 to 17 December 1999. Positive signals had been received indicating that several more accessions were under way. [Mr. Petocz is also President of the second annual conference, to be held from 11 to 13 December 2000.]

He said that the first annual conference established a group of experts to consider several issues under the Amended Protocol. That Group made eight concrete recommendations, which were subsequently adopted by the conference. One of those recommendations called for structured discussions on the subjects of international technical information exchange, international cooperation on mine clearance, technical cooperation and assistance and development of viable and cost-effective technologies that could eventually replace anti-personnel landmines.

National annual reports were a very important source of structured information in the context of the Amended Protocol II, he said. That instrument could be further improved, if appropriate guidelines were developed on how to fill out the forms. States parties that had not submitted their national annual reports according to the recommendation of the first annual conference should do so as soon as possible.

HENRIK SALANDER (Sweden) introduced the draft resolution on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (document A/C.1/55/L.50). He appreciated the support received by the large number of co-sponsors. The 1980 Convention was a framework tool with four annexed Protocols. Protocol I, adopted on 10 October 1980, dealt with fragmentation weapons. Amended Protocol II, adopted on 3 May 1996, concerned the use of landmines, booby traps and other devices. A third Protocol on incendiary weapons was adopted on 10 October 1980, and on 13 October 1995, Protocol IV dealing with blinding laser weapons was adopted. Those instruments were an integral part of international law applicable to armed conflicts. The significantly increased suffering of civilians since the end of the world war was reason enough to intensify efforts towards implementing both the Convention and its Protocols.

He said that the Convention and its Protocols had sought to constrain the conduct of war by restricting the use of conventional weapons, which might cause excessive injuries or have indiscriminate effects on their victims. Once implemented, the rules contained in those instruments would limit the suffering of both civilians and combatants. The draft resolution called upon all States to become parties to the Convention and its Protocols and to adhere to the provisions therein. If those instruments were universal and its provisions were implemented, lives could be saved and suffering reduced.

Continuing, he said that the Convention had also offered a framework for negotiations to gradually redefine or expand the categories of conventional weapons covered by the Protocols. The last Review Conference in 1995, which continued in 1996, had provided an opportunity to strengthen Protocol II and adopt the new Protocol on blinding laser weapons. Both instruments had entered into force. The draft text reflected those and other positive developments. It also addressed the issue of convening the second Review Conference in 2001 in Geneva. The Conferences were important tools for addressing all issues concerning the Convention and its Protocols and how their operation might be improved and further developed.

He hoped, he said, the Review Conference in 2001 would further strengthen the protection of civilians in conflict and improve the humanitarian situation after conflicts had ended. He also hoped that the States parties would discuss the issue of whether other categories of conventional weapons should be regulated under the Convention, and whether additional protocols were desirable. The draft resolution sought to promote further universalization of and adherence to that very important body of humanitarian law. It also intended to promote a successful Review Conference in 2001 by providing for a thorough preparatory process. He hoped the text would be adopted by consensus.

CHRISTOPHER SANDERS (Netherlands), supporting the draft resolution on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, introduced by Sweden, said that the Convention and its Protocols were a major instrument of international humanitarian law and served to reduce unnecessary suffering of combatants, as well as of civilians. They built on the fundamental norm of the law of armed conflict that military necessity had to be constantly weighed against the humanitarian objective to prevent unnecessary suffering. It was imperative to apply that norm to all categories of conventional weapons and munitions.

The Netherlands welcomed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) initiative to study modalities for a new fifth protocol to reduce the hazard posed to civilians by unexploded ordinance after hostilities had ceased. Such ordinance should self-destruct or deactivate at the moment they no longer served a military purpose. His Government also supported the call on States that had not yet done so to become parties to the Convention and its Protocols as soon as possible. It welcomed the preparatory process for the next review conference in 2001 and expressed appreciation to the work of the delegate of Australia to strengthen the Convention and others. It supported the delegate�s candidacy for the presidency of the review conference.

Mr. LUCK (Australia) said that the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and Its Protocols constituted a key instrument of international humanitarian law, which he had strongly supported through its development and augmentation. Without that instrument and the adherence of key States to its obligations, the suffering of civilians and combatants in armed conflict would increase. As a State party to the Convention and all of its Protocols, his country felt very strongly about the need for concerted efforts to achieve their universalization. The calls in the first two operative paragraphs hopefully proved that universalization was a shared goal, not only among States parties, but also among the members of the international community.

He said he also supported efforts to strengthen that instrument, with a view to maintaining its value and relevance. In that regard, he had approached all proposals submitted in the context of the forthcoming Review Conference with an open mind and an underlying motivation to improve the instrument wherever possible. Those proposals required careful study. He would remain flexible on the issue of the allocation of time for preparatory work, but the proposed programme in operative paragraph 5, which would have the Assembly decide to convene the second Preparatory Committee from 2 to 6 April 2001 and the third Preparatory Committee from 24 to 28 September 2001, was a good start.

PHAKISO MOCHOCHOKO (Lesotho) introduced a draft resolution on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (document A/C.1/55/L.14/Rev.1), on behalf of the African Group. He said that operative paragraph 3, lines 3 and 4, should be amended to read as follows:

"contributions in order to strengthen the programme of activities of the Regional Centre and facilitate the implementation thereof".

That amendment was made to harmonize with last year�s resolution, he said. The resolution took note of the Secretary-General�s report and reaffirmed the need to revitalize the Centre. It also appealed for voluntary contributions to enable the Centre carry out its activities. The draft resolution reflects the importance which the African Group attached to the work of the Centre. The members of the Group hoped that the draft would be adopted by consensus.

AHMED EL-SAID RAGAB (Egypt) introduced the draft resolution on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East (document A/C.1/55/L.16), which had been adopted by consensus for several years. Just recently, in 1999, the substantive session of the Disarmament Commission adopted by consensus principles and guidelines on the establishment of such zones. The 2000 NPT Review Conference had called on States, especially in the Middle East, to support the creation of a zone free from nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, to transmit their declarations of support to the Secretary-General, and take practical steps towards that objective. Those commitments were a clear testimony to the viability and relevance of that concept in the Middle East.

Such a zone, he continued, would greatly contribute to ending the proliferation of the threat of nuclear weapons, strengthening all States of the region, and serving as an important confidence-building measure towards a lasting Middle East peace. The zone�s establishment had received overwhelming support. Nonetheless, that objective had remained elusive. No concrete or operational measures had been taken and no serious talks had been held, formally or informally, with a view to turning that aspiration into practice. Despite the stagnation of such efforts, his country had firmly supported implementation of the resolution, which was adopted annually by the Committee.

He said he had remained committed to the earliest establishment and implementation of the principles and provisions of a Middle East zone free from nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. In a region fraught with tension, the zone could not be looked upon as a post-peace dividend, but rather as a confidence-building measure facilitating a just and lasting Middle East peace. Although he fully realized that regional peace, security and stability would only be achieved when a comprehensive and just settlement was attained, it was essential to create a suitable climate for that project. The establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone would contribute substantially in that regard.

The time was more than ripe to proceed towards that goal, he said. Thus, operative paragraph 10 of the draft had endeavoured, once more, to utilize the good offices of Secretary-General in order to inject a fresh impetus into those efforts. It was timely today to seriously embark on laying the solid foundations on which to proceed. The same operative paragraph had asked the Secretary-General to pursue consultations with the States of the region and other concerned parties. The eighth preambular paragraph and operative paragraph 9, in which a reference was made to create a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction, sought to broaden the scope of the 1974 initiative by adding chemical and biological weapons.

Since the announcement of that initiative in 1990 by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the objective had been attracting ever-growing support. For example, the Security Council adopted resolution 687 (1991) which reiterated the need to work towards the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free from all weapons of mass destruction. Also, the Secretary-General proposed in his Millennium Report that an international conference be convened to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers.

MOHAMMAD MOHAMMAD (Iraq), commenting the on draft resolution on the nuclear- weapon-free Middle East, said that all Arab States had adhered to the NPT. That had, however, not protected them from the nuclear threat posed by Israel. The international community had not compelled Israel to place its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. Up to the present moment, Israel still refused to comply and place its nuclear facilities under such safeguards. The security of the Middle East necessitated putting an end to the weapons of mass destruction.

The continuing nuclear programmes of Israel outside the NPT regime and that country�s refusal to adhere to the NPT or to place its facilities under the comprehensive regime of the IAEA presented a threat to Arab national security, he continued. It also diminished the universality of the NPT. The international community, in forcing all States of the region with the exception of Israel to adhere to the nuclear non-proliferation regimes, had created an imbalance that threatened regional stability. He would join the consensus on the draft resolution, despite his concerns.

ANDRES FRANCO (Colombia) spoke, on behalf of the Rio Group, on transparency in armaments. He said strengthening regional peace and security was a key objective of the Group. The application of measures to build confidence and promote security would help create a favourable climate for controlling conventional arms build-ups and enabling the diversion of resources from arms to social and economic development.

He said that the heads of State of the Rio Group had made a commitment to continue to promote transparency in armaments as part of their defence policies. In order to promote an international order of peace and cooperation, the member States accepted the principle of disarmament and the maintenance of their armaments at the lowest possible level, corresponding to their minimal needs for legitimate defence. Last June, the Inter-American Convention on Transparency in the Sale of Conventional Weapons was opened for signature, demonstrating the commitment of the countries of the Group.

On the Register of Conventional Arms, he said that the Group of Experts had reaffirmed the need for of enlarging it. Trade in arms was only one phase of the life cycle of those weapons. Policies that only focused on the trade, which is the last phase of the life cycle of the weapons, were incomplete. It was important to include the producing countries in efforts aimed at ensuring transparency, since they had more control over the chain of production and export. The importing countries must also show moderation.

JOEL NHLEKO (Swaziland) said that more than ever the dangers of nuclear proliferation required the continued vigilance of the international community. The role played by the United Nations in creating a stable security environment was more crucial than ever. Notwithstanding the achievements of the United Nations, some regions of the world remained in serious danger. Some countries that still possessed nuclear weapons had not fulfilled their commitments under the NPT regime. The world faced the spectre of a nuclear war for the first time since the end of the cold war.

He reiterated the call by the Non-Aligned Movement that, with the end of the cold war, there was no justification for the maintenance of nuclear arsenals or concepts of international security based on promoting and developing military alliances and policies of nuclear deterrence.

The immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices was central to strengthening nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament, he said. His country hoped that all States that had not done so would eventually stop the production of such fissile material. It would continue to encourage the efforts by the nuclear-weapon States to reduce nuclear weapons globally, with the ultimate goal of eliminating them. It would also encourage adherence by all States to general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. The achievement of the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons required that nuclear proliferation be controlled.

MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) introduced the draft resolution on security assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons (document A/C.1/55/L.36). He said that the United Nations Charter�s most fundamental principle stated that Member States must refrain from the use or threat of use of force in international relations. That obligation applied to the use or threat of force with all kinds of weapons. The emergence of nuclear weapons after the Second World War had completely changed the nature of war and the manner in which people would be killed. The fundamental obligation not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons was based on the Charter�s prohibition of the use or threat of use of force.

When the NPT was being negotiated, the non-nuclear-weapon States had sought credible and binding guarantees that they would not be threatened by the use of nuclear weapons and, in the case of such a threat, that the nuclear-weapon-States would assist them. The response to those expectations had been dismal, and would ultimately be the source of much of today�s nuclear danger. Security guarantees

were not written into the NPT or into a protocol. The security assurances offered by three nuclear-weapon States were partial and conditional, as were the unilateral statements made in 1979 at the first special session of the General Assembly on disarmament.

That special session had called for the conclusion of an international instrument on security guarantees by the Conference on Disarmament, he said. Unfortunately, after more than two decades, the Conference had been unable to conclude such an agreement. Even after the cold war, the Conference could not offer a credible formula for such assurances. There had been considerable hope that the end of the cold war would produce the hoped-for results. Unfortunately, the nuclear-weapon States had proceeded in the opposite direction. After the indefinite extension of the NPT in 1995, the Security Council resolution on the subject was even more limited in scope and credibility than its predecessor.

Continuing, he said that some nuclear-weapon States had reserved the right to retain nuclear weapons indefinitely. Indeed, statements were made reserving the right to use those weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States, including States parties to the NPT or nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties, if those countries threatened the use of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction. Later, a nuclear alliance announced a new doctrine, which envisaged the use of force and the increased possibility of the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States. The spread of nuclear weapons to certain regions had added to the possible threat or use of nuclear weapons.

He said that the co-sponsors of the present text believed that the Conference had a vital task to achieve, namely, to reverse the progressively negative trends regarding the possible use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. The call for negative security assurances was more crucial than ever. Among others, such assurances would reduce the danger of the use of nuclear weapons, constitute an important confidence-building measure, facilitate nuclear disarmament and the eventual elimination of those weapons. The Conference should re-establish an ad hoc committee on negative security assurances early next year and make rapid progress towards reaching the vital objectives set out in the text.

JEAN DU PREEZ (South Africa), supporting the draft resolution on the Ottawa Convention, said that the Convention set new standards in disarmament. The signing of the Convention by so many countries was a record-breaking achievement. The commitment of the signatories to the Convention was evident in the continued eradication of stockpiles. The international norms established by the Convention were having a global impact, and the inclusive nature of partnerships under it was being maintained and reinforced. Mines, however, continued to be used in conflicts. To rid the world of that danger, all governments had a responsibility to accede to the Convention as soon as possible.

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