VICE MINISTER OF INTERIOR AND SECURITY OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO ADDRESSES CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT
The Conference on Disarmament this morning heard a statement from the Vice Minister of Interior and Security of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Egypt also delivered two statements on the prevention of an arms race in outer space and on negative security assurances. After the President of the Conference read out a statement on behalf of the participants of the 2009 International Women’s Day Disarmament Seminar, Norway, Mexico, South Africa and Syria spoke on the issue of allowing the direct participation of non-governmental organizations in the proceedings of the Conference on Disarmament.
Zephyrin Mungongo, Vice Minister of Interior and Security of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that enhancing international security through comprehensive disarmament remained the main concern of the international community. Towards the end of the past century and at the beginning of the new millennium, mankind had gone through a difficult period in its history; conflicts had reduced the role and practice of cooperation and negotiations. One of the effective means of discouraging the use or threat of use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists was by buttressing multilateral systems already established banning such weapons and preventing their proliferation.
Regarding small arms and light weapons and the reduction of armed violence, Mr. Mungongo said his country had made significant headway in implementing the United Nations Programme of Action of 2001 aimed at preventing, combating, eliminating and fighting against proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Regarding Anti-personnel mines, it had also been the focus of considerable attention in his country and they were sparing no efforts in seeking to protect their people from these weapons. The Democratic Republic of the Congo would also soon sign the Convention banning the production, use, stockpiling and transfer of cluster bombs or sub munitions.
Egypt, speaking on the issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, said that with the technological developments over the past 40 years, the Outer Space Treaty could no longer be seen as efficient and a new legally binding and integrated mechanism was needed to fill in the gaps. Transparency and confidence-building measures were important complementary elements. Yet priority had to be given to concluding legally binding instruments to reinforce, consolidate and enhance the effectiveness of the presently existing international legal regime on outer space. Transparency and confidence-building measures did not constitute a substitute for the needed legally binding instruments.
In a second statement on negative security assurances, Egypt strongly reiterated its call for the establishment a nuclear free zone in the Middle East, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. Also, further steps had to be considered to ensure non-nuclear weapons states parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. This could take the form of a legally binding instrument.
Ambassador Chitsaka Chipaziwa of Zimbabwe, President of the Conference on Disarmament, read a message received from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom on behalf of the participants of the 2009 International Women’s Day Disarmament Seminar. In the message, women from many parts of the world reported from their seminar “Getting to Peace in the Middle East – Changing Threat Perceptions”, held at the Palais des Nations on 4 March 2009.
Speakers welcomed the message by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Norway hoped that there would be more seminars of this kind and activities of non-governmental organizations in this area. Mexico said that it would have been more meaningful if a representative of the League had read out the message. For them it was not understandable that a body more exclusive than the Conference of Disarmament, the Security Council, had shown greater flexibility and had regular interaction with civil society. South Africa said that the broader question of the participation of civil society in the work of the Conference on Disarmament should be addressed by the Conference. There was no reason why, in his view, the Conference could not set time aside to address this issue. Syria said that it was regrettable that the Conference on Disarmament had not yet been able to settle this matter and allow direct access to non-governmental organizations.
The Conference this morning also took action on a request for participation in the work of the 2009 session of the Conference it had received and agreed to grant observer status to Angola.
The next meeting of the Conference on Disarmament will take place on Saturday, 7 March at 10:30 a.m., when it is scheduled to hear from the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov.
Statements
ZEPHYRIN MUNGONGO, Vice Minister of Interior and Security of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that enhancing international security through comprehensive disarmament remained the main concern of the international community. Since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945 the goals of multilateral disarmament and arms limitations had been at the core of the Organization’s efforts to bring about reduction, elimination and destruction of all these weapons which posed a threat to mankind. Towards the end of the past century and at the beginning of the new millennium, mankind had gone through a difficult period in its history; conflicts had reduced the role and practice of cooperation and negotiations.
The Conference on Disarmament was the sole multilateral body of the international community for the negotiation of disarmament agreements, said Mr. Mungongo. It had successful conducted negotiations on the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Furthermore, the role that it had been playing in the physical elimination of weaponry and in monitoring observance of commitments entered into, meant that the United Nations had been playing the key role in multilateral disarmament by helping Member States to draw up new standards and to strengthen and consolidate existing agreements.
One of the effective means of discouraging the use or threat of use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists was by buttressing multilateral systems already established banning such weapons and preventing their proliferation, said Mr. Mungongo. The Democratic Republic of the Congo would focus its statement on the significant progress made as regards weapons of mass destruction, small arms and light weapons, anti-personnel mines and cluster bombs.
Regarding weapons of mass destruction, after sustained efforts, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had acceded to, signed and ratified a number of agreements, conventions and treaties aimed at reducing nuclear stockpiles, prohibiting the deployment of weapons of mass destruction, in certain regions and environments such as outer space or the sea-bed and limiting, monitoring and controlling, the proliferation of these weapons. Action in this respect was taking place at three levels: international, regional and national, said Mr. Mungongo.
At the regional level, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had, in 2005, ratified the Pelinda Treaty which had made the African Continent a zone free of nuclear weapons. They had also participated in a workshop on a Security Council Resolution aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, so as to deter non-state actors to obtain such weapons. At the national level, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had taken measures to limit nuclear activities solely to peaceful uses of atomic energy, said Mr. Mungongo.
Regarding small arms and light weapons and the reduction of armed violence Mr. Mungongo said that his country had made significant headway in implementing the United Nations Programme of Action of 2001 aimed at preventing, combating, eliminating and fighting against proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had thus established in 2008 a national commission to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and the reduction of armed violence. At present the national commission was carrying out activities in keeping with the United Nations Programme of Action with a view to implementing a national programme of action in 2010. A bill on small arms and light weapons was currently before Parliament, with a view to its adoption and enactment.
Regarding anti-personnel mines, an area focused on by the Ottawa convention, Mr. Mungongo said that it had also been the focus of considerable attention in his country and they were sparing no efforts in seeking to protect their people from these weapons. A commission to combat anti-personnel mines had thus been established. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had also participated in several disarmament meetings around the world, including in Oslo for the signing of the Convention banning the production, use, stockpiling and transfer of cluster bombs or sub munitions. The Democratic Republic of the Congo would soon sign this treaty and the Ministry of Interior would do its outmost to ensure its steady ratification.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, a post-conflict country, was also appealing to the international community to support it against the scourge, which was devastating mankind as a whole. They also endorsed the concerns of the Group of 21, of which it was a member, and underscored the importance of nuclear disarmament and negative security assurances and preventing an arms race in outer space. They also wanted the Conference to be in a position to enable its Members to reach an agreement on its programme of work soon.
CHITSAKA CHIPAZIWA (Zimbabwe), President of the Conference on Disarmament, read a message received from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom on behalf of the participants of the 2009 International Women’s Day Disarmament Seminar. In the message, women from many parts of the world reported from their seminar “Getting to Peace in the Middle East – Changing Threat Perceptions”, held at the Palais des Nations on 4 March 2009. The seminar was held to stimulate discussion and bring in new ideas. The Conference on Disarmament could not function in a vacuum and successful negotiations depended not only on the good will and concerted efforts of its members, but to a large extent on the state of relations among nations and their governments.
This year’s seminar had been held in two parts, the first of which was a panel discussion focused on increasing understanding about the culture of fear that was pervasive in the Middle East. Panellists had noted that weapons were used to kill people and destroy infrastructure, creating this culture of fear, violence and instability. Disarmament was a tool to enhance security for everyone. Also, the goal of a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction had been repeatedly affirmed by all States in the region, as well as the international community at the highest political levels, read the text. In preparation for the 2010 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, many States had raised the issue for the status of implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East.
The consolidation of peace in the area required concurrent progress along three parallel tracks: the political track, including the Arab Peace Initiative, the disarmament track and a third track along which governments of the region demonstrated their ability to cope with their internal problems and satisfied the needs and hopes of their peoples. Without this third track, other States would not be confident that a particular country would remain true to its commitments, read the text. It would be impossible to maintain and implement this third track towards shared human security, without the full and active engagement of civil society, and particularly women.
The second part of the seminar had been a non-governmental organization strategy session to discuss ways to address and change this culture of fear to create a sustainable culture of peace. There had been a lengthy discussion about the Arab Peace Initiative with the recognition that civil society in the region and outside it needed to education and inform others about the Initiative, said the text.
Lastly, they also supported the recent discussions and efforts to increase access in both formal and informal settings of the Conference on Disarmament. Not only could non-governmental organizations contribute valuable perspectives and information to decision-making bodies, but also governments had to account to the people for their actions and decisions. The issue of the participation of non-governmental organizations had to be constantly raised so that actions did not sink to the level of symbolism. The stalemate in moving disarmament forward had to be broken now, concluded the text read out by Mr. Chipaziwa.
HILDE SKORPEN (Norway) assured the President of her delegation’s readiness to collaborate in the efforts to start negotiations; this had to be the focus of the Conference on Disarmament. Today, the Conference had heard a strong testimony from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom about yesterday’s seminar on living under fear. She hoped that there would be more seminars of this kind and activities of non-governmental organizations in this area. Norway commended the International Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom for their efforts. She also welcomed the announcement made by the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Vice Minister today that his country would sign the treaty on cluster munitions.
MABEL GOMEZ OLIVER (Mexico) said that they were satisfied by the efforts and actions undertaken by the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. She also welcomed the message of the International Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. The message had been very relevant to the work of the Conference on Disarmament.
It would have been more meaningful if a representative of the League had read out the message, said Ms. Gomez Oliver. For Mexico it was not understandable that a body more exclusive than the Conference of Disarmament, the Security Council, had shown greater flexibility and had regular interaction with civil society. This issue should be part of the modernization and reform of the United Nations.
Mexico recognised the added value that an involvement of civil society would bring to the Conference on Disarmament. The possibility of interacting and exchanging views was a key element for the democratization of this body. It would also give a possibility to governments to respond to the inputs of the civil society. It could greatly contribute to the work of the Conference on Disarmament. Such an opening up would be an invaluable demonstration of the flexibility of the Conference on Disarmament.
HISHAM BADR (Egypt), in a statement on the issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, said that it was an undeniable fact that few of the members of the Conference on Disarmament had at present the ability to pursue an arms race in outer space. Such a fact highlighted the importance of working together in order to preserve the peaceful nature of the common heritage of mankind and ensure that it was only used for peaceful endeavours. They had to act sooner rather than later. With the technological development over the past 40 years, the Outer Space Treaty could no longer be seen as efficient and a new legally binding and integrated mechanism was needed to fill-in the gaps.
Mr. Badr said that his delegation believed that transparency and confidence building measures were important complementary elements and reaffirmed its support in this regard. Yet priority had to be given to concluding legally binding instruments to reinforce, consolidate and enhance the effectiveness of the presently existing international legal regime on outer space. Such transparency and confidence building measures did not constitute a substitute for the needed legally binding instruments.
The latest and most prominent endeavour to address the prevention of an arms race in outer space within the Conference was the joint initiative of Russia and China. Egypt welcomed this initiative and saw it as an important and constructive step forward; it constituted a sound basis for moving ahead.
HISHAM BADR (Egypt), in a second statement on negative security assurances, said that States had seen fit to conclude a legally binding treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons as early as 1968. But to this day, over 40 years later they had not managed to conclude a similar treaty renouncing the very use of such weapons, which should have sequentially preceded their elimination as an interim but much needed measure recognizing the right of non-nuclear weapon states not to be attacked or threatened by the use of nuclear weapons.
Positives steps to assure non-nuclear states had been pursued in the past years, including through the creation of several nuclear weapons free zones. Egypt welcomed such measures and recognized their benefits. But these remained incomplete and could not replace a legally binding instrument. Egypt strongly reiterated its call for the establishment a nuclear free zone in the Middle East, in accordance with the relevant Security Council Resolutions, said Mr. Badr.
Further steps had to be considered to ensure non-nuclear weapons states parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. This could take the form of a legally binding instrument. Egypt also reiterated its strong support for the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion, which said that there existed an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament. Pending the attainment of that goal, Egypt highlighted the necessity of providing states that had renounced nuclear weapons with much needed security guarantees.
JOHAN KELLERMAN (South Africa) said that after having listened to the statement of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, he wanted to express his delegation’s thanks for the work of this organization. It was also most regrettable that yet once again, the Conference on Disarmament had not been able to reach consensus on allowing this particular non-governmental organization to address the Conference directly. This situation had been occurring for the last five years; this was an unfortunate situation and he hoped that it would change in the future.
Further, the broader question of the participation of civil society in the work of the Conference on Disarmament should be addressed by the Conference, said Mr. Kellerman. There was nor reason why, in his view, the Conference could not set time aside to address this issue. It was better to do that sooner than later.
ABDULMAOLA AL-NUQARI (Syria) said concerning the statement of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, he wanted to say that Syria had spoken in favour of the non-governmental organization speaking itself before the Conference. It was regrettable that the Conference on Disarmament had not yet been able to settle this matter and allow direct access to non-governmental organizations. He encouraged non-governmental organizations to further study disarmament philosophy in their work. Syria very much hoped that next year they would be able to listen to the non-governmental organization directly.
For use of the information media; not an official record
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