CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HOLDS PUBLIC PLENARY

The Conference on Disarmament this morning held a public plenary in which it heard from the Group of 21 on nuclear disarmament and negative security assurances and from the Informal Group of Observer States to the Conference on Disarmament on their relationship with the Conference. Also speaking in the meeting were Syria, France, the President of the Conference and the Secretary-General of the Conference.

Hamid Ali Rao, India, speaking on behalf of the Group of 21, in a first statement on nuclear disarmament, said that the Group of 21 reiterated its concern at the threat to humanity posed by the 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. The International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion of 1996, had concluded that there existed an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament. The Group of 21 reiterated that achieving total nuclear disarmament remained its highest priority and reaffirmed its readiness to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specific framework of time, including a nuclear-weapons convention. The fundamental principles of transparency, verification and irreversibility should be applied to all nuclear disarmament measures.

While reiterating its deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the nuclear-weapon States towards accomplishing the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, the Group of 21 underlined the importance of effective step-by-step implementation of concrete measures in order to achieve a nuclear weapons free world. Nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation were substantively interrelated and mutually reinforcing, said Mr. Rao. The Group of 21’s States parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty noted with satisfaction the successful conclusion of the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference and welcomed its endorsement of the convening in 2012 of a conference on the establishment of a Middle East Zone free of nuclear weapons. 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. There was also a genuine and urgent need to eliminate the role of nuclear weapons in strategic doctrines and security policy to minimize the risk that these weapons would ever be used. Pending the achievement of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, the Group of 21 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 also stressed the significance of achieving universal adherence to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The Group of 21 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 on Disarmament.

In a second statement on behalf of the Group of 21 on negative security assurances, Mr. Rao said that the Group of 21 reaffirmed that the total elimination of nuclear weapons was the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Pending this achievement, the Group of 21 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. There was a need to recognize the right of non-nuclear-weapon States not to be attacked by or threatened with the use of nuclear weapons. The establishment of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones was a positive step and an important measure towards strengthening global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The Group of 21 also reiterated its support for the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free of all nuclear weapons. While Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones were a positive step, it did not subscribe to the arguments stating that declarations that had been made by the nuclear-weapon States were sufficient or that security assurances should only be granted in the context of nuclear-weapons free zones.

Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Thailand, speaking on behalf of the Informal Group of Observer States to the Conference on Disarmament, said that one of the reasons for having established the Informal Group of Observer States had been to enhance the interaction among Observer States and to promote their engagement with the Conference. Disarmament was an issue of concern not only for the Member States of the Conference but for the global community. The Group expressed its appreciation for the President’s initiative to convene an informal meeting with the Observer States; one of the first such meetings in recent years. The meeting had been informative and had proved the President’s willingness to engage with all interested parties.

Mr. Phuangketkeow said the Group reaffirmed its support to the efforts to reach consensus on an agreed, comprehensive, and balanced programme of work that addressed the interests of all States concerned. The immediate commencement of the work of the Conference was essential in order to prove its relevance. The informal consultations were a step in the right direction, but these should by no means substitute or divert attention from formal negotiations. The Group also welcomed the outcome of the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, which invited the United Nations Secretary-General to convene a high-level meeting in September of this year on negative security assurances and fissile materials. A successful outcome of this meeting would be a positive step forward.

Faysal Khabbaz-Hamoui, Syria, congratulated the Ambassador of Brazil on assuming the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament and welcomed the statement made by the Foreign Minister of Brazil, which the delegation said gave them a ray of light. The delegation also welcomed the invitation of the President to participate in consultations to get to know more about where they were and where they were going in the future. The delegation felt that Member States were very close in their positions and the matter required only some understanding and mutual concessions to reach a programme of work; insistence on positions would not be useful or promote their work or take them out of the vicious circle in which they were. The Syrian delegation expressed concern over the launching of the Horizon-9 military satellite into space by Israel, which the delegation said was used for spying on Member States in the region. This step was worthy of condemnation because it made the situation in the region and the world more tense and was indicative of a desire by Israel to proceed with an arms race in all fields. This serious and aggressive escalation required condemnation by all, and should not be ignored or condoned. This step by Israel, which constituted aggression, made the Syrian delegation more determined to address the four core questions of disarmament, including the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the use of outer space for spying.

Eric Danon, France, regretted that the statement by the Group of 21 on the concrete steps to be taken in the future regarding disarmament had not mentioned once the negotiation of a Cut-Off Treaty. France also deplored that the Observer Group’s statement had only retained the fact that the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference’s invitation for the United Nations Secretary-General to convene a high-level meeting was about negative security assurances and fissile materials. One had to see that the Secretary-General’s invitation was much broader that just those two subjects.

Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva and Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament, read out the following announcement: “It is my pleasure to inform that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, has decided to convene a high-level meeting of Member States of the United Nations on Friday, 24 September during the high-level segment of the General Assembly. As you know, the Secretary-General has consistently emphasized disarmament as one of his key priorities. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss how to promote multilateral disarmament in general and the effectiveness of the Conference on Disarmament in particular. An invitation from the Secretary-General will be forthcoming. The meeting is planned not to exceed half a day. The Secretary-General will open with a short statement, after which Member States are invited to express their views on these issues. As time will be limited, statements should be brief and concise. In conclusion, the Secretary-General will make a Chairman’s Summary of the discussions. This event will follow on from and be in line with recent positive developments in relation to disarmament in both bilateral and multilateral contexts. The Secretary-General hopes that the meeting at the high level will give further political impetus and impulse to multilateral disarmament.”

Luiz Filipe de Macedo Soares, Brazil, President of the Conference on Disarmament, said that in the view of this Presidency, the Secretary-General’s high-level meeting would be a welcome opportunity. Whatever its extent would be, it would be in support of the Conference on Disarmament. In the view of this Presidency it was thus important that by that time the Conference on Disarmament had already adopted its programme of work and fully implemented it. This would give more impetus to support the Conference and for work to be started next year. He also noted that he had continued to hold individual consultations with delegations. He had met 60 of them so far to exchange views about the possibility of adopting a programme of work. He would meet tomorrow with the different regional groups. It was important that the Conference on Disarmament resumed its work.

The next public plenary of the Conference on Disarmament will be held on Tuesday, 6 July at 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber.


For use of information media; not an official record

DC10/027E