GROUP OF 21 AND EUROPEAN UNION DISCUSS PREVENTION OF ARMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE AT CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT, INDIA EMPHASIZES NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

The Group of 21 and the European Union this morning discussed their views on working on the issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space at the Conference on Disarmament, while India emphasized the importance of dealing with nuclear disarmament within the Conference.

Syria, speaking on behalf of the Group of 21, said the Group of 21 recognized that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, and emphasized the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provision for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space in all its aspects. It was important and urgent to prevent an arms race in outer space. It was time to start negotiation in the Conference on Disarmament on matters related to the prevention of an arms race in outer space. While stressing the priority of negotiation of legally binding instruments on strengthening the international legal regime on outer space, the Group of 21 recognized that global and inclusive transparency and confidence building measures, arrived at through broad international consultations, could be important complementary measures. In this regard, the Group of 21 welcomed the joint Russian-Chinese initiative of a draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, the threat or use of force against outer space objects, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to the Conference.

Slovenia, speaking on behalf of the European Union, thanked Foreign Minister Lavrov for having presented, on behalf of the Russian Federation and China the proposal for a draft treaty on prevention of placement of weapons in outer space. The European Union Member States emphasized that further substantive discussion concerning space issues would take place when the proposed programme of work of the Conference was agreed, and they urged all remaining Members of the Conference to join consensus. Concerning the draft treaty, some European Union Member States had had the opportunity to provide informally their preliminary views to the Russian Federation. While the European Union identified itself with the overall goal to preserve outer space as an area free from armed conflict, further reflection and work was required on the elements for an effective international treaty. For example, it remained a difficult challenge to achieve consensus on the definitions needed for a legally binding instrument. As a matter of principle, an effective and robust verification system must be an integral part of any future treaty concerned with space security, and it was not sufficient to only refer to a possible future additional protocol.

India welcomed the tabling of the draft treaty by the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation on prevention of placement of weapons in outer space, along with China. Focusing on the issue of nuclear disarmament, India said as the sole multilateral negotiating forum on disarmament, there was a heavy responsibility on the Conference to make progress on nuclear disarmament. The first priority was binding commitments, accompanied by negotiation of specific steps that would reduce and finally eliminate the nuclear threat globally in a verifiable and irreversible manner, where no State would claim exclusive security based on its possession of nuclear weapons. India recognized that these were complex issues on which divergencies of approach persisted amongst Member States. India proposed that the Conference consider the appointment of a Special Coordinator to assist in carrying out consultations on specific measures or a set of measures that had the potential of commanding consensus which could form the basis of a mandate for a possible Ad Hoc Committee on Nuclear Disarmament. India also supported the establishment of Ad Hoc Committees on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) and on negative security assurances.

Ambassador Ahmed Uzumcu of Turkey, the President of the Conference, said that at 4 p.m. on Monday, 3 March, the Foreign Minister of Argentina would address the conference. At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 4 March, dignitaries from the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Romania, Iran, Slovakia, Colombia and Norway would address the Conference, and starting 3 p.m., dignitaries from Turkey, Japan, Ukraine and the Republic of Korea would speak before the body. The Conference would also meet at noon on Wednesday, 6 March, to hear an address by the State Secretary from Sweden.

The next plenary of the Conference will be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, 3 March.

Statements

FAYSAL KHABBAZ HAMOUI (Syria), speaking on behalf of the Group of 21, said the role of space technology in day to day life had become pervasive. Outer space and other celestial bodies were the common heritage of mankind and must be used, explored and utilized for the benefit and interest of all mankind in a spirit of cooperation. The growing use of outer space increased the need for greater transparency, confidence building measures and better information on the part of the international community. The Group of 21 recognized that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security. The Group of 21 emphasized the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provision for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space in all its aspects. It was important and urgent to prevent an arms race in outer space. In this regard, the Group of 21 was deeply concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic-missile defense systems and the pursuit of advanced military technologies capable of being deployed in outer space which had, inter alia, contributed to the further erosion of an international climate conducive to the promotion of disarmament and strengthening of international security.

The Group of 21 believed that the prevention of an arms race in outer space had assumed greater urgency because of legitimate concerns that existing legal instruments were inadequate to deter further militarization of outer space, or to prevent its weaponization. It was time to start negotiation in the Conference on Disarmament on matters related to the prevention of an arms race in outer space. While stressing the priority of negotiation of legally binding instruments on strengthening the international legal regime on outer space, the Group of 21 recognized that global and inclusive transparency and confidence building measures, arrived at through broad international consultations, could be important complementary measures. In this regard, the Group of 21 welcomed the joint Russian-Chinese initiative of a draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, the threat or use of force against outer space objects, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to the Conference.

HAMID ALI RAO (India) said India was deeply conscious of the fact that the Conference on disarmament had been unable to commence substantive work for nearly a decade. During that period, India had joined other delegations to explore various proposals to advance the work of the Conference. Despite commendable efforts, the momentum that was created last year to move the Conference out of its longstanding stalemate did not advance far enough so as to command consensus. Any decision on a programme of work must be consistent with the rules of procedures, preferably on the basis of a clear and integrated text. India had consistently maintained its principled position of attaching the highest priority to the goal of nuclear disarmament, both as a national position which had enjoyed strong and consistent domestic support as well as a member of the non-Aligned Movement, and here in the Conference as a member of the Group of 21. As the sole multilateral negotiating forum on disarmament, there was a heavy responsibility on the Conference to make progress on nuclear disarmament. The first priority was binding commitments, accompanied by negotiation of specific steps that would reduce and finally eliminate the nuclear threat globally in a verifiable and irreversible manner, where no State would claim exclusive security based on its possession of nuclear weapons.

India would suggest enunciation of concrete steps towards achieving the goal of nuclear disarmament based on the following elements: reaffirmation of the unequivocal commitment of all nuclear weapon States to the goal of complete elimination of nuclear weapons; reduction of the salience of nuclear weapons in the security doctrines; taking in account the global reach and menace of nuclear weapons, adoption of measures by nuclear-weapon States to reduce nuclear danger, including the risk of accidental nuclear weapon, de-alerting of nuclear weapons to prevent unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons; negotiation of a global agreement among nuclear weapon States on no-first use of nuclear weapons; negotiation of a universal and legally binding agreement on non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon States; negotiation of a convention on the complete prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; and negotiation of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, leading to the global, non-discriminatory and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified timeframe.

India recognized that these were complex issues on which divergencies of approach persisted amongst Member States. India proposed that the Conference consider the appointment of a Special Coordinator to assist in carrying out consultations on specific measures or a set of measures that had the potential of commanding consensus which could form the basis of a mandate for a possible Ad Hoc Committee on Nuclear Disarmament. India also supported the establishment of an Ad Hoc committee on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) as part of the Conference’s programme of work. India supported the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on negative security assurances to negotiate with a view to reaching an agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons. India welcomed the tabling of the draft treaty by the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation on prevention of placement of weapons in outer space, along with China.

BOSTJAN JERMAN (Slovenia), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the European Union recognized ever growing dependence on outer space for their economic and industrial progress and development, as well as for ensuring their security. The European Union thanked Foreign Minister Lavrov for having presented, on behalf of the Russian Federation and China the proposal for a draft treaty on prevention of placement of weapons in outer space. The European Union Member States emphasized that further substantive discussion concerning space issues would take place when the proposed programme of work of the Conference was agreed, and it urged all remaining Members of the Conference to join consensus. Concerning the draft treaty, some European Union Member States had had the opportunity to provide informally their preliminary views to the Russian Federation. While the European Union identified itself with the overall goal to preserve outer space as an area free from armed conflict, further reflection and work was required on the elements for an effective international treaty. For example, it remained a difficult challenge to achieve consensus on the definitions needed for a legally binding instrument. As a matter of principle, an effective and robust verification system must be an integral part of any future treaty concerned with space security, and it was not sufficient to only refer to a possible future additional protocol.

The European Union appreciated Russian efforts to enhance international space security and to put the subject on the international agenda. Considering the current state of affairs in the Conference, the European Union wished to focus on a pragmatic and incremental approach, which would contribute to the strengthening of space security and create the atmosphere of confidence and transparency. To that end, the European Union was working on a set of transparency and confidence building measures which it planned to present at the Conference for discussion. Such transparency and confidence building measures could be an important stepping stone in this area. Naturally, any additional measures should be complementary to the existing legal framework.

For use of the information media; not an official record

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