CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HEARS STATEMENTS FROM SYRIA ON BEHALF OF GROUP OF 21 AND INDONESIA ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

The Conference on Disarmament this morning heard a statement from Syria on behalf of the Group of 21 in which it stated that pending the achievement of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, there was an urgent needs to establish a legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and from Indonesia in which it urged nuclear- weapon States to take the necessary action towards further advancing their nuclear disarmament efforts, and for them to do so in a manner that was both verifiable and irreversible.

Syria, speaking on behalf of the Group of 21 on nuclear disarmament, said while noting the measures taken by the nuclear-weapon States for nuclear arms limitation, and encouraging them to take further such measures, the Group of 21 reiterated its deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by nuclear-weapon States towards accomplishing the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals. Pending the achievement of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, the Group reaffirmed the urgent need to reach an early agreement on a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

Indonesia said nuclear disarmament was not an option, it was an obligation. Indonesia agreed that it was necessary to create an environment conducive for nuclear disarmament. But it also believed that the international security situation and nuclear disarmament efforts would mutually reinforce each other. Non-proliferation in all its aspects was important but it would not solve the problem unless accompanied by sufficient disarmament measures. Indonesia and other non-nuclear weapons States had adhered to their commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. They urged nuclear-weapon States to take the necessary action towards further advancing their nuclear disarmament efforts, and for them to do so in a manner that was both verifiable and irreversible.

Ambassador Ahmed Uzumcu of Turkey, the President of the Conference, said that next week, one Vice President, seven Foreign Ministers, four Deputy Foreign Ministers and a State Secretary of Foreign Affairs would be addressing the Conference on Disarmament. Therefore there would be two meetings of the Conference on Tuesday, 4 March, in the morning and in the afternoon, and probably another meeting on Wednesday, 4 March. He would distribute the complete list of dignitaries who would be speaking before the Conference once it was finalized.

The next plenary of the Conference will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 28 February.


Statements

FAYSAL HAMOUI (Syria), speaking on behalf of the Group of 21, said he would deliver a statement on nuclear disarmament by the Group of 21. The Group of 21 expressed concern at the threat to humanity posed by the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use. As long as nuclear weapons existed, the risk of their proliferation would remain. On 29 January, in a statement to the Conference, the Group of 21 reiterated that “achieving total nuclear disarmament remained its highest priority.” The Group of 21 had contributed to the deliberations on nuclear disarmament in the Conference, including by presenting working papers, proposals, draft decisions and mandates. Stressing its strong commitment to nuclear disarmament, the Group of 21 reaffirmed its readiness to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, including a nuclear weapons convention. An international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time. The fundamental principles of transparency, verification and irreversibility should be applied to all nuclear disarmament matters. While noting the measures taken by the nuclear-weapon States for nuclear arms limitation, and encouraging them to take further such measures, the Group of 21 reiterated its deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by nuclear-weapon States towards accomplishing the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals.

The Group of 21 emphasized that progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects was essential to strengthening international peace and security. Pending the achievement of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, the Group reaffirmed the urgent need to reach an early agreement on a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. The Group of 21 reaffirmed the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, and called for renewed efforts to resolve the current impasse in achieving nuclear disarmament, particularly in the adoption of a balanced and comprehensive programme of work of the Conference. The Group of 21 suggested concrete steps to promote the goal of nuclear disarmament, including reaffirmation of the unequivocal commitment of nuclear-weapon States to the goal of complete elimination of nuclear weapons; elimination of the role of nuclear weapons in the security doctrines; adoption of measures by nuclear-weapon States to reduce nuclear danger, such as de-alerting of nuclear weapons and decreasing the operational readiness of nuclear weapons systems; negotiation of a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; negotiation of a convention on the complete prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; and negotiation of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, leading to the global, non-discriminatory and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time.

I GUSTI AGUNG WESAKA PUJA (Indonesia) said Indonesia associated itself with the statement by Syria on behalf of the Group of 21. Indonesia attached great importance to the total elimination of nuclear weapons and underscored the need to continue dialogue and negotiations in order to achieve the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. The issue of nuclear disarmament had been discussed for a very long time and efforts were still ongoing. As underlined in the statement of the Group of 21, the Group had presented many documents with proposals relating to complete nuclear disarmament, and the Conference could revisit these documents as the proposals would help to further advance the negotiations on nuclear disarmament in the Conference. Nuclear disarmament was not an option, it was an obligation. Indonesia agreed that it was necessary to create an environment conducive for nuclear disarmament. But it also believed that the international security situation and nuclear disarmament efforts would mutually reinforce each other. Non-proliferation in all its aspects was important but it would not solve the problem unless accompanied by sufficient disarmament measures. Non-nuclear weapon States for their part had played an important role that supported the aim of eliminating the risks of nuclear weapons. Indonesia and other non-nuclear weapons States had adhered to their commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. They urged nuclear weapon States to take the necessary action towards further advancing their nuclear disarmament efforts, and for them to do so in a manner that was both verifiable and irreversible.

For use of the information media; not an official record

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