CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT OPENS HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT

The Conference on Disarmament opened the high-level section of its public plenary this morning. Its President Ambassador Vaanchig Purevdori of Mongolia welcomed dignitaries from Russia, Algeria, Sweden, Netherlands, Argentina and Ukraine who addressed the Conference.

Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, spoke about the accumulation of threats in the area of international security which were deepening crises that affected not only certain countries but whole regions. Constructive multilateral cooperation was urgently needed. Mr. Lavrov spoke about the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons, Iran’s nuclear programme and the successful chemical demilitarization operation in Syria. Moscow was committed to pursuing nuclear disarmament, he said, expressing concern that many types of high-precision weaponry were already close to mass-destruction weapons in terms of capabilities.
Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, expressed disappointment with the lack of process in nuclear disarmament and spoke about the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons. He also spoke about efforts in conflict resolution in Mali and the Sahel, and in Libya. Algeria appealed to States which had not yet done so to urgently ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Margot Wallström, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, said compared to the nuclear weapons of today the bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were simple and crude but they still killed 200,000 people, maimed many more and brought complete devastation on two cities. It was unacceptable that more than 16,000 nuclear weapons remained today. Important work was carried out in Geneva in the wider field of disarmament, she said, also expressing deep concern about reports of the use of cluster munitions against civilian populations in South Sudan and Syria.

Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, said the line between war, conflict and crime was becoming thinner. There had been many positive achievements since the end of the Cold War; not least that nuclear stockpiles had been slashed by 80 per cent since the 1980s; something the Conference could claim some credit for. A key priority was the immediate start to negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for explosive devices. He expressed deep concern at reports on the apparent use of cluster munitions in Luhansk, Ukraine.

Eduardo Antonio Zuain, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, said the goal of global disarmament would only be achieved through the political will of States. He spoke about raising awareness of the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons and expressed concern regarding negative security assurances, as well as compliance by States parties with the Treaty of Tlatelolco prohibiting nuclear weapons in the Latin America and Caribbean regions.

Sergiv Kyslytsya, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said great attention continued to be focused on the situation in the Donbas region of Easter Ukraine and occupied Crimea, which had contributed much to the issue of disarmament. On the eve of the seventieth anniversary of the end of World War II, the world order, based upon the noble purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, was under major attack. A hybrid war on Ukraine had been unleashed by a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council which bore a special responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

Ministers from Russia, Algeria, Sweden, Netherlands, Argentina and Ukraine made statements in today’s meeting. Representatives of the United States, United Kingdom and Russia took the floor in the right of reply.

The Conference on Disarmament will next meet in public at 3.30 p.m. to hear statements from dignitaries of Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar and Turkey.

High-Level Section

SERGEY LAVROV, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, said recent years had been characterized by accumulation of threats in the area of international security, deepening crises that affected not only certain countries but whole regions. Constructive equal multilateral cooperation was urgently needed to develop mutually acceptable approaches based on balance of interests and not on the ambitions of those who viewed the world through the prism of their own exceptionality. The potential of the Conference on Disarmament had far from been exhausted, said Mr. Lavrov. While sharing concerns about its ‘stall’ Russia stood for the re-establishment of the Conference’s functions in full, which required all involved to show flexibility and find a balance of interests. Ahead of the opening of the next Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York in less than two months Russia called for respect of the Treaty which was rightly regarded as the cornerstone of global strategic stability and international security.

Russia was deeply concerned by the uncertainty regarding the convention of a Conference on the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons, saying the task of launching negotiations on such a Weapons of Mass Destruction-free zone remained a priority on the international agenda. It was important to continue the dialogue with the countries of the region in order to convene the Conference without delay. Russia welcomed the further expansion of nuclear-weapon-free-zones in order to bring closer the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world, and stood ready to sign the Protocol to the Bangkok Treaty on nuclear-weapon-free-zones in Southeast Asia.

Regarding Iran’s nuclear programme Mr. Lavrov said the constructive talks between the P5+1 and Iran to resolve the situation were an encouraging factor strengthening the non-proliferation regime. Russia contributed fully to Iran’s successful and timely conclusion striving for agreement that was firmly based upon the non-proliferation principles and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) best practices.

Turning to Syria, Mr. Lavrov said last summer an unprecedented operation on chemical demilitarization was successfully completed: the removal of all chemical weapons and precursors from Syria. Russia contributed significantly to the endeavour, both politically and financially, which was possible due to the joint efforts of the United Nations, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and a number of States, first of all Syria itself, whose Government ensured fulfilment of the obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and cooperated in good faith with international structures in exceptionally complicated circumstances.

Moscow was committed to pursuing nuclear disarmament, said Mr. Lavrov, which was starkly evident in Russia’s strict adherence to the Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty with the United States. Russia’s priority now was to reach the limits provided for in the Treaty on delivery vehicles and warheads by 2018. President Putin said Russia was ready for the most serious, concrete discussions on nuclear disarmament – but only serious discussions without any double standards. The unilateral actions of the United States and their allies in the field of strategic missile defence had already become a strong destructive factor that undermined strategic stability and negated the mere prospect of advancement towards ‘nuclear zero’, said Mr. Lavrov. The fact was that many types of high-precision weaponry were already close to mass-destruction weapons in terms of their capabilities. In case of full renunciation of nuclear weapons, nations that were leaders in developing and producing high-precision systems would have a clear military advantage that would lead to the disruption of strategic parity and destabilization.

Russia was concerned that the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty was being postponed for an indefinite period, said Mr. Lavrov, urging all nuclear States to ratify it without exception, as Russia did in 2000. Mr. Lavrov also spoke about the prevention of an arms race in Outer Space and encouraged the Conference to soon decide to start working on the Russia-China Draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects. He expressed concern about the upgrade of non-strategic nuclear weapons by certain States, and training exercises by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members, which he said were in violation of the first two fundamental Articles of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

RAMTANE LAMAMRA, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, said recent proliferation and diversity of conflicts, the emergency of hotbeds of tension, and upsurges in ethnic and religious intolerance were obstacles to the objectives of disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Algeria had acceded to all non-proliferation instruments and ratified the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and three of its protocols. Regarding efforts in conflict resolution, Mr. Lamamra said Algeria participated actively in multilateral initiatives to combat terrorism, ensure nuclear safety and security measures and had led an international mediation group between the Malian Government and politico-military groups in the north of Mali in order to find a national solution for the conflict in the Sahel region. The adoption of a roadmap to peace, a ceasefire on the ground and most recently an accord signed yesterday in Algiers represented good progress. Algeria was also working towards a peaceful solution to the Libya crisis that would achieve the unity of the Libyan people and its territorial integrity.

Mr. Lamamra said it was disappointing to note that little progress had been made in nuclear disarmament. The doctrine of nuclear deterrents, together with programmes to modify nuclear weapons, seriously risked the extinction of the human race. He spoke about the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and recalled the Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Algiers last May at which Ministers called for a clear timetable leading to a binding convention on the eradication of nuclear weapons. Only by abandoning the principle of ‘mutual assured destruction’ could the nuclear weapons powers show their commitment to building a totally secure world. In that context the conclusion of a treaty on the prohibition of fissile materials for nuclear weapons would be extremely relevant.

Algeria appealed to States which had not yet done so to urgently ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Algeria also spoke of its concerns regarding an arms race in Outer Space, emphasizing that the necessary conditions for the peaceful use of Outer Space must be ensured. Regarding efforts to revitalize the Conference on Disarmament, Algeria said it welcomed the initiative to hold a forum for civil society could contribute to the Conference. The current deadlock was a concern, as it seriously undermined the credibility, relevance and usefulness of the deliberations of the Conference and consequently undermined multilateralism, which was so vital in this field.

MARGOT WALLSTRÖM, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, recalled a recent visit to the Swedish Parliament by Hiroshima survivor Ms. Setsuko Thurlow who expressed the grave concern of hibakushas that today the bomb continued to threaten generations to come. Compared to the nuclear weapons of today the bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki were simple and crude, but they still killed 200,000 people outright or in the aftermath, maimed many more and brought complete devastation on two cities, said Ms. Wallström. More than 16,000 nuclear weapons remained today and that was unacceptable. The call from the men and women of Hiroshima and Nagasaki rang clear: all nuclear weapons must be abolished.

Important work was carried out in Geneva in the wider field of disarmament said Ms. Wallström. She welcomed continued discussions about Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems Questions under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), saying life and death must never be delegated to machines. Sweden continued its longstanding engagement in mine action worldwide, she said, recalling the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines which was one of the most successful conventions in disarmament. Ms. Wallström announced that the decommission of all Sweden's cluster munitions would soon be complete. She expressed deep concern about reports of the use of cluster munitions against civilian populations in South Sudan and Syria. Another major security threat was the use of contagious disease as a weapon; one only had to look at the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to understand the potential dangers. Sweden would do its part in promoting a constructive and tangible outcome at next year’s Review Conference for the Biological Weapons Convention.

The three international conferences on the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons had once again put human beings at the heart of discussions. Ms. Wallström announced that Sweden was returning to the de-alerting group, an important risk-reduction measure on which real progress could be achieved in the short term, and looked forward to working with partners Chile, Malaysia, Nigeria, New Zealand and Switzerland on advancing the issue. Finally, Ms. Wallström warned that if the Conference remained unable to fulfil its mandate, the international community had to consider other possible avenues for bring disarmament work forward, including the General Assembly. The key word was progress, not process, she emphasized. 2015 marked 70 years since nuclear weapons were used in armed conflict for the first and hopefully the last time. In light of the worsened security situation in Europe the abolition of nuclear weapons was more important than ever.

BERT KOENDERS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, said the world was characterized by new forms of conflict and the line between war, conflict and crime was becoming thinner. There was no room for complacency. Disarmament had always been one of the United Nations raison d'être and at this difficult time the Conference on Disarmament was more important than ever. Achieving global nuclear disarmament was the subject of the first General Assembly resolution in 1946, when memories of the horrific events of the Second World War were still fresh in people’s minds. No one wanted the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to be repeated. But in spite of the ideals and international institutions established the world ended up in a Cold War, in an arms race with enormous stockpiles of nuclear weapons and with horrifying concepts like ‘mutual assured destruction’.

There had been many positive achievements since the end of the Cold War; not least that nuclear stockpiles had been slashed by 80 per cent since the 1980s; something the Conference could claim some credit for. It was true the current geopolitical situation was not conducive to disarmament but there were always complications, and the current difficulties in the international arena were no reason to abandon nuclear disarmament. Even during the Cold War we kept talking and managed to conclude some key disarmament treaties, said Mr. Koenders. The Conference on Disarmament was an essential part of a well-functioning disarmament mechanism and could, and should, have started the year by adopting a Programme of Work.

A key priority for the Netherlands was an immediate start to negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for explosive devices, said Mr. Koenders, noting that the Netherlands was part of the Group of Governmental Experts on the proposed Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT). The Non-Proliferation Treaty was the cornerstone of disarmament and non-proliferation policy and a successful outcome of the very important Review Conference later this year was in everybody’s interest. The frustration felt by the Non-Proliferation Treaty community at the slow pace of disarmament had to be acknowledged, said Mr. Koenders, adding that the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons underlay everything the Netherlands did in the field of disarmament.

Mr. Koenders also spoke about progress made in conventional disarmament, in the broadest sense, and called for focus on implementing the landmark Arms Trade Treaty. He looked forward to the first Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Dubrovnik in September and expressed deep concern at an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) report of the apparent use of cluster munitions in Luhansk, Ukraine. Netherlands called on everyone, including all Governments to refrain from using cluster munitions and to take all necessary measures to protect civilians from them.

EDUARDO ANTONIO ZUAIN, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, said it was absolutely essential to overcome the gridlock in the Conference on Disarmament and at the outset endorsed the efforts of the Presidency of Mexico to breathe new life into the Conference. The goal of global disarmament would only be achieved through the political will of States, he said. Argentina supported the continuity of the informal working group on a Programme of Work and had taken an active role in the Group of Governmental Experts on a possible treaty on the prohibition of fissile materials. Such a treaty could be a milestone in bringing about a world free of nuclear weapons.

Argentina supported the process of raising awareness of the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons, said Mr, Zuain. It had been 48 years since the signing of the Treaty of Tlatelolco – the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean – he recalled, saying that today there were difficult interpretations regarding negative security assurances and of the second protocol to the Treaty which committed those acceding to the Treaty not to introduce nuclear weapons into the area covered by the Treaty. It was further challenged by the unlawful, disproportionate and unjustified military presence of the United Kingdom in the Malvinas and neighbouring islands and the surrounding maritime area. That included the movement of nuclear submarines in a large part of Argentinian territory which was unlawfully occupied by the United Kingdom and part of a sovereignty dispute recognized by the United Nations.

Argentina had traditionally considered nuclear disarmament a priority and its conduct in the different for a spoke volumes about its clear and sustained commitment to that end. Argentina had a vigorous peaceful nuclear programme for peaceful purposes in full compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty and relevant standards. In that regard Argentina developed, used and exported nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Argentina was concerned that the great progress made in four decades in terms of non-proliferation was not matched by equivalent progress in the field of disarmament. It was difficult to hold up the values of non-proliferation when some countries continued developing ever-more sophisticated nuclear weapons. Existing nuclear arsenals were of devastating proportions, threatened global security and undermined all the efforts made towards non-proliferation.

SERGIV KYSLYTSYA, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said great attention continued to be focused on the situation in the Donbas region of Easter Ukraine and occupied Crimea, which had contributed much to the issue of disarmament. On the eve of the seventieth anniversary of the end of World War II, the world order, based upon the noble purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, was under major attack. A hybrid war on Ukraine had been unleashed by a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council which bore a special responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

Ukraine respected peace, needed peace, and strove for peace. Therefore Ukraine was fully committed to the implementation of both the Minsk Agreements of September 2014 and of February 2015. It considered their implementation as the only way to a peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas. Last Thursday, 26 February, Ukraine started withdrawal of its heavy weapons from the line of contact under Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring and verification. Unfortunately the fragile ceasefire was in danger because of constant attacks and provocations by Russian-backed terrorists. In that regard Ukraine had started consultations with the United Nations with the view to deploying a peacekeeping operation in Ukraine, which could be an indispensable instrument in ultimately helping implement the Minsk Agreements and bringing back peace.

Taking into account the current security challenges, including those confronted by Ukraine, arms control and disarmament were as important as ever. Mr. Kyslytsya addressed several issues of the Conference’s agenda which Ukraine considered of particular importance. Nuclear disarmament was key, and Russia’s position on the eventual deployment of nuclear weapons on the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea was very irresponsible and destructive. Moreover, the Russian side had seized Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, installations and materials located in Crimea, in contradiction of the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Russia’s actions as a nuclear-weapon State posed a direct threat to the international non-proliferation regime, which Ukraine adhered to as a non-nuclear weapon State.

Last year Ukraine’s confidence in politically-binding agreements such as the Budapest Memorandum in connection with Ukraine joining the Non-Proliferation Treaty was compromised, if not destroyed, said Mr. Kyslytsya. The twentieth anniversary of Ukraine joining the Non-Proliferation Treaty and signing the Memorandum was marked by aggression from Russia, the occupation and annexation of Crimea and destabilization of the situation in the Eastern regions of Ukraine. Mr. Kyslytsya called for the provision of legally-binding security assurances which would send a strong message dissuading States from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Statements in Right of Reply

United States, speaking in the right of reply regarding the statement of Russia, said the United States had put forward a number of proposals over multiple administrations regarding cooperation on ballistic missile defences. Russia had declined to pursue any of those proposals. United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization missile defence systems were not directed at Russia. Those efforts did not and would not undermine Russia’s strategic deterrent. The United States had made it clear that it could not and would not accept any obligations or constraints that would limit its ability to defend itself, its allies or its partners. The United States needed the flexibility to respond to new and emerging threats. Regarding a second point, the representative of the United States spoke on the subject of the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space. He recalled that in 2010 the United States announced a national space policy which made it clear it was willing to discuss initiatives regarding outer space which were equitable, effectively verifiable and in the strategic national interest of the United States and its allies. The Russian and Chinese proposal was not equitable, not effectively verifiable and not in national interests.

United Kingdom, speaking in the right of reply regarding the statement of Argentina, said it understood the importance of assurances to non-nuclear weapons States. The United Kingdom had committed not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against States that were party to and in compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The United Kingdom ratified the Protocols to the Treaty of Tlatelolco in 1969 and fully respected its obligations. The United Kingdom position on its deterrent was unambiguous. The representative of the United Kingdom said it was regrettable that Argentina had again made unfounded claims about United Kingdom military presence in the South Atlantic and asked Argentina to desist from making such false allegations. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence briefed London-based Defence Attachés about the nature and purpose of its military assets on the Falkland Islands in December 2013 and issued a standing invitation for Defence Attachés to visit. The United Kingdom had no doubts about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and attached great important to the right to self-determination as set out in the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Covenant of Civil and Political Rights. There could be no negations on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands unless and until which time as the islanders themselves wished.

Russia, speaking in the right of reply regarding the statement by Ukraine, said it had repeatedly explained the situation which had emerged in the Donbas region. Russia was not a party to that conflict. To speak of an alleged hybrid war in that territory was totally unjustified. Secondly, Russia welcomed the agreements achieved during Minsk II and urged all parties to scrupulously observe those agreements. Russia would do all it could through the coordination group to ensure the removal of troops behind the line was carried out fully under the supervision of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. With respect to Russia’s alleged support to terrorists, Russia totally disagreed with that wording. There was no question of terrorists: it was about citizens of Ukraine and the Ukraine authorities who refused to agree with them. Finally, regarding the statement about the deployment of nuclear elements in Crimea, Russia confirmed that the statement was totally baseless allegations.

United States, speaking in the right of reply regarding the statement of Russia, said it categorically rejected Russia’s assertion that the United States was somehow in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty with regard to the so-called issue of ‘nuclear sharing’. That issue was dealt with at the negotiation of the treaty and United States policy on it was well-known.


For use of the information media; not an official record

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