AUSTRIAN FEDERAL MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ADDRESSES CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

Michael Spindelegger, Austria’s Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, this morning told the Conference on Disarmament that Austria had assumed its Presidency of the Conference at an important point in time, as the Conference had finally adopted a programme of work this year after more than a decade of stalemate. This was a positive development, long overdue. The programme of work of the Conference needed to be implemented to become a real achievement.

Focusing on recent positive developments in arms control and disarmament and their implications for the future, Mr. Spindelegger said that 2009 had seen one paramount development: the goal of nuclear disarmament and the eventual total elimination of nuclear weapons had been put back on the global agenda. Austria had promoted the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons throughout the Cold War, when only a few countries had possessed nuclear capabilities. Since proliferation had introduced new threats from States and non-States actors, striving for this goal was now all the more necessary. This vision was now shared by the most important nuclear powers.

Mr. Spindelegger identified two developments to translate the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons into concrete action. They had seen a renewed readiness to engage in bilateral negotiations. The commitment by Presidents Obama and Medvedev to negotiate a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty by the end of this year was a good example. Second, the global atmosphere in multilateral arms control negotiations had changed: preparation for the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference showed a markedly better atmosphere.

But “positive declarations, good atmosphere and universal interest also needed real implementation and compliance”, said Mr. Spindelegger. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty could only fulfil its promise of peace if all States adhered to their obligations. Similarly, the programme of work of the Conference on Disarmament needed to be implemented to become a real achievement.

Turning to expectations for the future, Mr. Spindelegger said that the deplorable nuclear test that was conducted by “North Korea” in May had made clear that the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty was overdue. He appealed to those States who had not yet done so to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible. Secondly, Austria believed that a comprehensive Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty would significantly contribute to nuclear disarmament. The potential positive impact of such a Treaty had been confirmed many times; it now required the political will of governments to make it a reality. Turning to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, he said that it would demonstrate whether they were capable of transforming the current positive atmosphere into real progress. Further, Austria would also support a global system to effectively control the nuclear fuel cycle, which should help to avoid tensions such as the ones they currently witnessed in regard to Iran’s nuclear programme.

Austria also attached great importance to arms control in the area of conventional weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and small arms and light weapons. Austria’s objective for this year’s Second Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty was to work for a strong Cartagena Action Plan, which would serve as a clear guide to States. One priority was to improve assistance to landmine survivors. Mr. Spindelegger noted that he would present later today a report on the global impact of the Ottawa Treaty and what remained to be done to improve the situation of survivors. He also encouraged States to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions. It was Austria’s strong hope that the Convention would enter into force before the end of this year. Turning to small arms and light weapons, he said that Austria supported the conclusion of a legally binding international Arms Trade Treaty to stop illicit arms trade.

Mr. Spindelgger concluded by saying that that there was no lack of work in arms control and disarmament today. “Protecting the world from the harm caused by weapons is a global project and needs the active support from us all”, he said.

The next plenary of the Conference on Disarmament will take place on Thursday, 3 September, at 10 a.m., when the Chairman of the First Committee of the General Assembly will address the Conference.



For use of the information media; not an official record

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