CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT CONCLUDES HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT; DISCUSSES PREVENTION OF AN ARMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE

The Conference on Disarmament this afternoon was addressed by the Foreign Minister of Finland, thus concluding its annual High-Level Segment. The President of the Conference on Disarmament, Vaanchig Purevdori of Mongolia, then invited States to discuss the agenda item on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space. China also made a statement regarding general issues, including the revitalization of the Conference.

Erkki Tuomioja, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, said the stalemate in the Conference on Disarmament remained a serious concern; there was a real risk it would be side-lined. An expansion of membership would enhance its legitimacy and inclusiveness as would recognition of the beneficial contribution of civil society and academia in today’s world. Finland welcomed the convening of a Conference on Disarmament Civil Society Forum week.

In the discussion on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, States considered the merits of the updated draft Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects submitted by Russia and China. Some States supported the immediate commencement of negotiations, while others voiced reservations, saying a new legally binding instrument needed to be comprehensive, precise and verifiable. The European Union encouraged States to support its proposal for an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities, which it was committed to commence negotiations on in 2015. States also discussed the merits of transparent confidence-building measures, space debris and the development and testing of destructive anti-satellite weapons.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, as well as China, Pakistan, Latvia on behalf of the European Union, United Kingdom, Russia, United States, Belarus, France, Italy, India and Indonesia took the floor.

The Conference on Disarmament will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 10 March to discuss negative security assurances. It will also hear an address from a representative of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, to commemorate International Women’s Day.

Meeting summaries of previous Conference on Disarmament plenaries can be found here.

High-Level Segment

ERKKI TUOMIOJA, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, first said yesterday’s celebration of International Women’s Day reminded all of the need to strengthen the participation and inclusion of women in all disarmament and arms control work in the spirit of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This year, 2015, was a special one in disarmament, said the Minister, not least with the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May and the first Conference of States Parties of the Arms Trade Treaty in August. The rapid entry-into-force of the Arms Trade Treaty served as a testament that the international community was ready and willing to regulate trade in arms and to reduce illicit trade in arms, said the Minister, urging all States that had not yet done so to sign and accede to it as soon as possible.

The Minister highlighted the endeavour to dismantle the Syrian chemical weapons programme, to which Finland had provided support and expertise. It was essential that the prompt destruction of the remaining production facilities was carried out and the discrepancies in the declarations clarified. Finland had grave concerns over the findings of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ Fact-Finding Mission to Syria, which had established the facts around allegations of the use of chlorine on Syrian civilians. The Minister also spoke about the importance of combating nuclear terrorism, countering biological threats and ending the suffering caused by anti-personnel landmines. Finally, the Minister said 2015 would be crucial in finding a durable funding structure for the instrumental organization of the United Nations Disarmament Research Institute and urged everyone’s effort in that regard.

The Minister acknowledged the decline in nuclear arsenals since the end of the Cold War but said recently the pace of nuclear disarmament had slowed down. Finland encouraged Russia and the United States in particular to seek further reductions in all categories of nuclear weapons, including non-strategic nuclear arsenals, and place them under a legally-binding verifiable international treaty system. It had not been possible to hold a Conference on the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear and other Weapons of Mass-Destruction in 2012, said the Minister, but the Finnish facilitator and the conveners, the United Nations Secretary-General, Russia, United Kingdom and United States, assessed that significant progress had been made. The Minister encouraged the continuation of informal meetings in the run up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference and said Finland was committed to hosting the Conference on a short notice once convened. The stalemate in the Conference on Disarmament remained a serious concern; there was a real risk it would be side-lined. An expansion of membership would enhance its legitimacy and inclusiveness as would recognition of the beneficial contribution of civil society and academia in today’s world. Finland welcomed the convening of a Conference on Disarmament Civil Society Forum week.

General Statement

FU CONG, Permanent Representative of China, said as the new Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, he wished to share his thoughts on some of the important arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation issues raised by dignitaries during the High-Level Segment. The world was experiencing profound transformation and adjustment. Economic globalization and rapid development in science and technology were turning the world into an ever closer community sharing an increasingly common destiny and interests and also leading to numerous new issues and challenges which had made threats to the world’s security ever more complex and diversified. Throughout the history of mankind, arms control and disarmament had always been an important way to maintain international peace and stability. This year marked the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the victory of the world’s anti-fascist war. Upholding the post-war order for international security was in the best interests of the overwhelming majority of States.

Progress in science and technology had ushered human activities into outer space and cyberspace. New technologies offered mankind huge benefits, said China, but their military application could also pose immense potential risks and threats to the security and even survival of mankind. Efforts should be devoted to preventative diplomacy and focus on checking the emerging arms race in outer space and cyberspace. China also spoke about the 20 year stalemate of the Conference on Disarmament, stating that it was a grave concern. The representative of China made a number of suggestions for revitalizing it. First, China called for the bold measure of throwing the door open to all sovereign States, so all aspiring countries had the right to be members of the Conference. Second, China suggested adding new agenda items, offering information security and the prevention of an arms race in cyberspace as good options. Third, China said the Conference could also make progress on negotiating codes of conduct on pressing threats to international security, in addition to treaty negotiations.

Discussion on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space

Pakistan said with the ever-growing use of outer space by an increasing number of States both for civilian and military purposes, the potential and risk of its weaponization could not be ruled out. The issue of ‘Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space’ (PAROS) had been on the Conference’s agenda for over three decades: the time was ripe to commence negotiations on a legally binding treaty. Pakistan was party to all of the five core multilateral treaties governing the peaceful uses of outer space and a member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which had an important role in maximising the benefits of space capabilities in the service of humanity, particularly in the fields of environment, health and disaster mitigation. Pakistan asked States opposed to the commencement of negotiations on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space in the Conference the reasons for their opposition. Those States should acknowledge their responsibility in perpetuating the Conference’s deadlock by preventing the start of negotiations on an issue which did not undermine the security interests of any State, said Pakistan. It also welcomed the laudable and pioneering initiative of Russia to announce its political commitment that it would not be the first to place weapons in outer space.

Latvia, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said today the space environment faced significant challenges stemming from the proliferation of dangerous orbital debris which increased the likelihood of destructive collisions, the crowding of satellites, inter alia, in geo-stationary orbit, the growing saturation of the radio-frequency spectrum as well as the threat of deliberate disruption or destruction of satellites. The Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space was essential for strengthening strategic stability. The European Union attached great importance to the development and implementation of transparent confidence-building measures as a means of strengthening security and ensuring sustainability in the peaceful uses of outer space. The European Union encouraged States to support its proposal for an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities, which it was committed to commence negotiations on in 2015. The European Union was concerned by the continued development of all anti-satellite weapons and capabilities, including terrestrially based, and underlined the importance of addressing such developments. The European Union noted the submission in 2014 by China and Russia of an updated draft Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects but maintained reservations on it, saying a new legally binding instrument would need to be comprehensive, precise and verifiable. Regarding the General Assembly resolution on No-First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the European Union believed that the very idea of “not to be the first to place” was ambiguous and may entice States to be the second or third.

United Kingdom said space security encompassed traditional security issues as well as those associated with socio-economic stability. Severe disruption to the information received, transmitted or collected by satellites could pose a significant security and economic risk to all countries. Security and emergency services would find coordinating and communicating with deployed personnel or emergency response vehicles much more difficult. The ability to monitor, warn of and react to threats as diverse as international humanitarian crises, natural disasters, severe weather events and even terrorist attacks would be seriously curtailed. Today there were more than 60 States and entities operating over 1,000 satellites in outer space. The Earth’s upper atmosphere was becoming increasingly congested and hard to manage. The impact of an arms race in outer space on global stability and prosperity had to be considered. Measures to improve transparency and increase confidence among States were an essential foundation for any future negotiation. The United Kingdom cited broad questions that had emerged in informal discussions on the Prevention of an Arms Race In Outer Space. They included what approach should be taken to building a framework governing behaviour in Space; the merits of a definitional approach and a ban on specific technologies, versus a behavioural approach to control specific actions; and whether we were too focused on weapons being stationed in Space when certain countries were actively developing and testing ground based weapons systems with the sole aim of destroying Space assets.

Russia said that the annual adoption of the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the Prevention of an Arms Race In Outer Space, submitted in turn by Egypt and Sri Lanka, was in essence adopted by consensus, which showed the exclusive interest in those issues and the desire to see them settled in the near future. The placement of weapons in outer space would radically change the international situation. Strategic stability would be destroyed because space weapons were global in scope and capable of covert and surprise attacks on any point on the planet at any point in time. Given their highly selective nature, space weapons would certainly be used. The risks of such a scenario were ever more probable given developments in science and technology. Outer space lacked legal protection against becoming a possible arena for those weapons. Russia, China and other like-minded States had consistently advocated for the agreement of an international legally-binding instrument to maintain global stability and ensure peace and security for all. Russia was aware of the criticism directed at the updated draft Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects but noted that it was difficult to find any international treaty which completely satisfied all demands upon it. Definitions of the use of force or threat of use of force had been limited exclusively to ‘intentional activities which aimed to create harm in outer space’. Russia also said it was prepared to work in the context of other initiatives, and had been an active and constructive participant in European Union-initiated activities on a draft International Code of Conduct for Outer Space. However, progress would only be achieved through fully fledged negotiations with the participation of all interested States on the basis of a clear mandate under the auspices of the United Nations.

United States said the legacy of success in space brought new challenges. Outer space was becoming increasingly congested from orbital debris and contested from human threats that endangered the space environment. Therefore it was essential that all nations worked together to preserve the domain for use by future generations. The United States was especially concerned about the continued development and testing of destructive anti-satellite weapons. The world had seen the long-lasting environmental effects of China’s intentionally destructive 2007 direct-ascent anti-satellite missile flight-test that generated long-lived debris in low Earth orbit. China’s July 23, 2014 non-destructive flight-test of an anti-satellite missile interceptor designed to destroy satellites in low Earth was also troubling, said the United States. China was not the only one pursuing those capabilities, said the United States, recalling that Russian leaders openly asserted that the Russian armed forces had anti-satellite weapons and conducted anti-satellite research. The revised draft Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects (PPWT) submitted by Russia and China remained flawed for numerous reasons, including its lack of verifiability, failure to address terrestrially-based anti-satellites and potential for a break-out capability. The United States was convinced that challenges could and should be addressed through practical, near-term initiatives such as a non-legally binding transparency and confidence-building measures to encourage responsible actions in and the peaceful use of outer space. With the recent decision to convene negotiations later this year, the United States looked forward to working with the European Union and the broader international community in an inclusive multilateral process to finalize a Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities.

Belarus said it was important to develop a system of international measures to increase transparency, confidence and safety in outer space, suggesting that such transparency and confidence building measures would not plug the existing gaps in the current outer space legislation. Belarus supported the concrete proposals aimed at ensuring outer space remained a peaceful place, and proposals aiming to develop international legal agreements with the prohibition of the weaponization of outer space as their objective. The joint draft Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects proposed by Russia and China was the most acceptable way to do so. However, some States in the Western Group were not in favour of specific substantive discussions on issues in the context of this subject, said Belarus. Many Western Group countries preferred to talk about different nuances relating to the peaceful use of outer space and often Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space discussions focused on space debris. It would not be appropriate if many States which were not in favour of fissile material discussions to talk about the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency and so on remarked Belarus.

France said space security called for a global response incorporating civilian and military aspects. It was in everyone’s interest to promote the principle of the responsible use of space, not least for future generations. France shared the objective of avoiding an arms race in outer space and was not in principle opposed to negotiating instruments to that end. It noted Russia and China’s efforts to promote discussions in the Conference on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space. However, France’s position on the necessary positions for formulating a legally binding instrument was that it should be comprehensive, precise, universal and credible. Those conditions were not self-evident. It was difficult to define some fundamental terms, said France, and there was a need to formulate precise conditions, considering the complexity of formulating a credible verification process. The rapid deterioration of the space environment needed measures could be urgently promoted, and for that reason France supported the formation of transparent confidence-building measures, whether of a technical or political nature. France expressed its full support to the European Union for the draft International Code of Conduct for Outer Space activities, which met fully the objective of building security in space.

Italy said it was fully committed to actively participate in discussions on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space and promoting international efforts to ensure the peaceful use of outer space. Italy also welcomed the 2013 report of the Governmental Group of Experts on the issue, which was approved by the United Nations General Assembly by consensus. Italy strongly supported the ongoing efforts of the European Union to promote a draft International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities and supported the comprehensive scope of the draft code which was applicable to military as well as civilian activities. The project complemented other initiatives, said Italy, noting the concern expressed by some countries that such a voluntary instrument would not be fully effective. Italy believed that such voluntary agreement could in fact pave the way for a legally binding instrument once its practicability had been established. Italy was committed to achieving an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space activities in 2015.

China initially responded to the remarks made by the United States, saying it was incorrect to categorize its tests as ‘anti-satellite’ when in fact some were anti-missile tests, while others were for the exploration of outer space for peaceful purposes. Some of China’s tests were not dissimilar to those conducted by the United States, it also noted. The Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space was a priority for China. Preventive diplomacy needed to be exercised to curb the looming threat of an arms race in outer space. Last year China and Russia presented to the Conference on Disarmament the joint draft Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects (CD/1985). China said the updated version included an additional protocol on verification measures, as well as provisions for transparency and confidence-building measures. It would be advisable to put aside contentious issues such as verification in order to adopt an internationally binding instrument, said China. The draft treaty banning the placement or use of weapons in outer space meant that possessing, storing or stockpiling such weapons would be meaningless. Crucially the treaty would totally prohibit the use of force against space objects which would naturally cover anti-satellite weapons, so even if a State party possessed such weapons they could never use them.

India said it had emerged as a major space-faring nation over the past five decades, with developmental and security dimensions to its space programme and a highly successful space launch vehicle. It had sent a spacecraft to the Moon, and the Mars Orbital Missions had already completed five months in the orbit of Mars. India believed that outer space should not become an arena of conflict but a new and expanding frontier of cooperative activity. India was prepared to consider the revised joint draft Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects presented by Russia and China. While universal and non-discriminatory transparency and confidence-building measures could play a useful complementary role they could not substitute for legally binding instruments. India supported the No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space resolution but said it was only an interim step and not a substitute for concluding substantive legal measures to ensure the prevention of an arms race in outer space. India supported the resolution on transparency and confidence-building measures but said it was unfortunate that a major space-faring country as India was not included in the Governmental Group of Experts, adding that a more representative Group could have enhanced the content of the report.

Indonesia noted that on 1 July 2013 its Foreign Minister signed in Brunei Darussalam a joint statement with the Foreign Minister of Russia declaring that both countries would not, in any way, be the first to place weapons of any kind in outer space. Indonesia welcomed the joint draft Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects presented by Russia and China. It noted that the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space had carried out an in-depth study on the issue and achieved a positive outcome. All States had a responsibility to refrain from engaging in any activity which could jeopardize the collective goal of maintaining a weapons-free outer space, underlined Indonesia.


For use of the information media; not an official record

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