CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HEARS STATEMENTS FROM RUSSIAN FEDERATION, CHINA AND THE NETHERLANDS

The Conference on Disarmament today heard statements from the Russian Federation and China on a new non-paper they were presenting on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, and from the Netherlands on last month's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.

The Representative of the Russian Federation said that as part of their continuing work together, the Russian and Chinese delegations were presenting a new non-paper to the Conference entitled "Definition Issues regarding Legal Instruments on the Prevention of the Weaponization of Outer Space". The new document presented the views on the issue of terms and definitions as well as some proposals on eventual definitions of such key terms as "outer space", "outer space object", "weapon (in outer space)", and others. The document was also an invitation to common creative work for further discussions. The Russian Federation also announced that it was the intention of the Russian Federation and China to organize a new meeting of an open-ended group to discuss all three thematic non-papers by the their delegations.

The Representative of China said China and the Russian Federation stood for the negotiation in the Conference of an international legal instrument prohibiting the deployment of weapons in outer space, and the use or threat of force against outer space objects and for this purpose, the two delegations and other countries had tabled a working paper. Since its submission and in response to suggestions, the two countries had circulated two thematic non-papers. Today, they were circulating another joint thematic non-paper which they hoped would help people to pay more attention and give more thought to the issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and serve as food for thought for the Conference on Disarmament's negotiation of a relevant future legal instrument in the Conference.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union, the Representative of the Netherlands presented the joint position adopted by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the European Union prior to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference held last month in New York. He said the common position contributed to a structured and balanced examination of the functioning of the NPT and covered a number of fundamental elements with regards to the three pillars of the NPT - non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Despite the inability of the NPT Review Conference to agree on a document by consensus on matters of substance, the European Union was more convinced than ever that the NPT contributed to the cause of peace.

In his closing remarks, the outgoing President of the Conference, Ambassador Joseph Ayalogu of Nigeria, called on Member States of the Conference to realize and accept that the threats in today's globalized world recognized no boundaries and, that in search for more efficient and effective collective security, they must understand that a threat to one State was a threat to all States. He appealed to delegations to recommend to their capitals that they accommodate the concerns of others, so that the Conference could agree on a comprehensive and balanced approach to its work. The solution to the problems in the Conference on Disarmament did not lie in Geneva but in the capitals where the political will was formed. What was lacking was the type of political will that favoured the thriving of multilateralism in the current global environment, he added.

Also speaking at this morning's meeting was the Representative of Canada who expressed appreciation for the non-paper distributed by the Russian and Chinese delegations, which was needed in order to move forward on the important but complex issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space.

The next plenary of the Conference will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 16 June.

Statements

LEONID SKOTNIKOV (Russian Federation) said the Russian Federation had been consistently advocating the commencement of negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament on a legally binding international instrument on the prevention of placement of weapons in outer space and had expressed its readiness to agree with the "to deal with" mandate of an Ad Hoc Committee on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) as proposed by the A5. He recalled that in June 2002, the delegations of the Russian Federation and China, together with a group of co-sponsoring States, had submitted their joint working paper entitled "Possible Elements for a Future International Legal Agreement on the Prevention of the Deployment of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects". The detailed and competent exchange of views revealed a growing concern of the international community of the real danger of an arms race proliferation in outer space, as well as a support of an idea of keeping outer space free from weapons of any kind and of launching negotiations aimed at conclusion of a relevant internationally legally binding instrument. In this context, States had expressed their support of efforts by the Russian Federation, China and other nations directed at the practical implementation of the United Nations General Assembly resolution "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". Moreover, a series of discussions had resulted in a number of interesting ideas and proposals, put together by the co-sponsors in an informal paper titled "Compilation of Comments and Suggestions to the Conference on Disarmament Working Paper", which was distributed to the Conference in July 2003.

A variety of constructive and important views on PAROS were expressed during the Conference on Disarmament's informal plenary in May 2004, as well as the Conference on Disarmament plenary in August 2004, he added. While developing further their initiative, the delegations of the Russian Federation and China had jointly prepared and distributed in August 2004 in the Conference on Disarmament two thematic non-papers titled "Existing International Legal Instruments and Prevention of the Weaponization of Outer Space" and "Verification Aspects of PAROS". Along with other documents, they could lay the foundation for the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on PAROS after it was established.

Mr. Skotnikov said that as part of their continuing work together, the Russian and Chinese delegations were presenting a new non-paper to the Conference on Disarmament titled "Definition Issues regarding Legal Instruments on the Prevention of the Weaponization of Outer Space". The new document presented the views on the issue of terms and definitions as well as some proposals on eventual definitions of such key terms as "outer space", "outer space object", "weapon (in outer space)", and others. The document was also an invitation to common creative work for further discussions.

In closing, Mr. Skotnikov announced that it was the intention of the Russian Federation and China to organize a new meeting of an open-ended group to discuss all three thematic non-papers by their delegations.

HU XIAODI (China) said for many years, China, together with the Russian Federation and others, had spared no effort in working for the prevention of an arms race in outer space in the international community, and the Conference on Disarmament in particular. China and the Russian Federation stood for the negotiation in the Conference of an international legal instrument prohibiting the deployment of weapons in outer space, and the use or threat of force against outer space objects. For this purpose, the two delegations and other countries had tabled a working paper. Since its submission and in response to suggestions, the two countries had circulated two thematic non-papers. Today, they were circulating another joint thematic non-paper - "Definition Issues regarding Legal Instruments on the Prevention of the Weaponization of Outer Space" – which they hoped would help people pay more attention and give more thought to the issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and serve as food for thought for the Conference on Disarmament's negotiation of a relevant future legal instrument in the Conference.

The failure of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference of last month to agree on a final document on a substantial basis was regrettable to China, he added. However, like many other States, China believed that the NPT had played, and would continue to play, a critical role in preserving the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, reducing the threat of nuclear weapons and maintaining global peace and security. China would faithfully implement all its obligations under the NPT and participate in the NPT review process in a positive and constructive manner. Moreover, China appealed to the members of the Conference on Disarmament to show political willingness and courage by agreeing on a programme of work, so as to begin substantive work on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances and a fissile material cut-off treaty, since they all had a bearing on international peace and security.

CHRIS SANDERS (the Netherlands), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the European Union observed that despite the efforts of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference and the efforts of the European Union and other States parties, the Review Conference, held last month, was unable to agree on a document by consensus on matters of substance. The joint position adopted by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the European Union contributed to a structured and balanced examination of the functioning of the NPT and the Union was convinced that its joint position represented a document of substance around which a consensus could be developed. For the Union, the importance lay within the three pillars of the NPT - non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy - as well as the issues of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, South Asia and other regional issues including the Middle East, nuclear free weapon zones, security assurances and the universalization of the NPT, all of which merited special attention.


The European Union was of the view that the balance between the three pillars was no longer properly reflected in the documents of the NPT Review Conference, he added. Throughout the Conference, the Union had demonstrated a flexible and constructive manner throughout all formal and informal debates and it regretted that this approach had not been broadly shared. Notwithstanding this state of affairs, the European Union was more convinced than ever that the NPT contributed to the cause of peace. Moreover, the Union reaffirmed its support to the decisions and resolutions adopted during the Review Conference held in 1995 and for the final documents which resulted from the 2000 review. It was also determined to preserve the integrity of the treaty.

Mr. Sanders said in order to contribute to the smooth functioning of a reinforced Review Conference of the NPT, the European Union proposed that consideration should be given to the idea of holding the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee of the NPT in 2007, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in Vienna; the second as usual in Geneva; and the third in New York..

Before closing, he asked that the document containing the common position of the European Union on the NPT Review Conference, adopted on 25 April 2005, be issued as an official document and distributed to the members of the Conference.

PAUL MEYER (Canada) expressed appreciation for the non-paper distributed by the Russian and Chinese delegations, which was needed in order to move forward on the important but complex issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS). He noted that the definition of terminology was crucial in the context of PAROS. The preference of the Canadian delegation was the re-establishment of an ad hoc committee on PAROS and Canada would also be supportive of using plenary sessions to consider these issues in more detail. He asked if the President of the Conference on Disarmament would be able to provide the appropriate forum to discuss these matters further.

JOSEPH AYALOGU, Outgoing President of the Conference on Disarmament, in closing remarks to the Conference, called on Conference Member States to realize and accept that the threats in today's globalized world recognized no boundaries and, that in search for more efficient and effective collective security, they must understand that a threat to one State, was a threat to all States. He appealed to delegations to recommend to their capitals that they accommodate the concerns of others, so that the Conference could agree on a comprehensive and balanced approach to its work. The solution to the problems in the Conference on Disarmament did not lie in Geneva but in the capitals where the political will was formed. What was lacking was the type of political will that favoured the thriving of multilateralism in the current global environment, he added.

For use of the information media; not an official record

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