CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT DISCUSSES IRAN’S LAUNCH OF BALLISTIC MISSILE

The Conference on Disarmament this morning was presented with a draft proposal by the Romanian Presidency on the establishment of a working group on the “way ahead”. Several delegations raised the issue of Iran’s recent ballistic missile launch.

Malaysia noted that any working groups needed to focus on devising appropriate ways to follow up on the proposals that had already been made in the previous working groups on similar subject matters, and stressed that the continuity would avoid repetitive discussions.

The United States criticized Iran’s 29 January ballistic missile test, which was in defiance of Security Council resolution 2231. Iran said that it was not seeking nuclear weapons and it did not believe that nuclear weapons would provide it with security. Israel condemned Iran’s launches of ballistic missiles, which were in violation of resolution 2231, and were clear proof of the Iranian regime’s intention to upgrade its missile capabilities. Iran pointed out that Israel was the only country in the Middle East outside of any international control and obligations on weapons of mass destruction.

The next public plenary of the Conference will take place on Tuesday, 14 February at 10 a.m.

Statements

ADRIAN COSMIN VIERITA, Permanent Representative of Romania and President of the Conference, thanked all the delegations for providing constructive feedback on the non-paper circulated on 23 January. Since the previous meeting, two non-member States – Armenia and Saudi Arabia - had submitted requests to participate in the work of the Conference as observers. The Conference then decided to allow those States to participate in its work as non-member States, in accordance with the rules of procedure.

The President informed that, based on the inputs of the delegations, a draft decision had been circulated on establishing a working group on the “way ahead”. It was not the intention of the President to take action on the draft decision today, as delegations needed more time to study it carefully. In that light, an informal plenary meeting would be held in the Council Chamber on 10 February.

Malaysia said that it had studied the President’s proposal on the “way forward”, as well as the views expressed by other delegations. Any working groups to be established needed to focus on devising appropriate ways to follow up on the proposals that had already been made in the previous working groups on similar subject matters, and ensure that a negotiating mandate was made clear. The continuity would avoid repetitive discussions and should facilitate the move closer towards action-oriented outcomes. Malaysia recognized that there were divergent priorities held by Member States with regard to the issues to be negotiated in the Conference. The Conference, however, had been drawing itself into a vacuum, disregarding the views of a large majority of States longing for the forum to make progress on the global disarmament agenda. Nuclear disarmament remained a top priority for Malaysia; progress was also possible on negative security assurances and fissile materials. At the same time, Malaysia recognized that the paralysis in the Conference had necessitated the international community to pursue disarmament efforts elsewhere.

United States raised the issue of Iran’s 29 January ballistic missile test, in defiance of Security Council resolution 2231. Such missiles were inherently capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Iran’s launch was highly provocative; it undermined regional stability and threatened multiple countries, including close allies of the United States. Such ballistic missile launches were clearly inconsistent with resolution 2231. All countries had an obligation under the resolution not to supply Iran with certain technologies. The international community ought to hold Iran accountable for its provocative behaviour, which needed to halt.

Iran assured the delegations that Iran was committed to its obligations, according to which Iran had implemented provisions in good faith. Recent statements by the International Atomic Energy Agency were proof of that. Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons and it did not believe that nuclear weapons would provide it with security. Iran was also not seeking to provoke anyone in the region or to infringe on the security of any country in the region. The recent test had been conducted purely for defence purposes and deterrence. Iran did not have missiles whatsoever to launch nuclear weapons, as Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons. What Iran had done was thus not in contradiction with resolution 2231. Iran assured the United States and countries in the region that it was not seeking provocation. Iran had a missile capability only for defence purposes, based on the bitter experience of the eight-year war.

Israel condemned Iran’s launches of ballistic missiles, which were in violation of resolution 2231, and were clear proof of the Iranian regime’s intention to upgrade its missile capabilities. A heavy price ought to be applied to Iran’s provocative behaviour. Iran’s launches posed an immediate threat to the State of Israel and the Middle East at large. In addition, Iran’s training of terrorist groups was a matter of concern for all.

Iran said that Israel was clearly out of any international obligations on the weapons of mass destruction. Israel was the largest threat to the region, and its capability was out of any international control and obligation, stressed Iran.



For use of the information media; not an official record

DC17/004E