CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT OPENS HIGH LEVEL SEGMENT

The Conference on Disarmament opened its High-Level Segment today, hearing statements by the Foreign ministers of Slovakia, the Netherlands and Argentina.

Miroslav Lajčák, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, strongly rejected the provocative nuclear test by “North Korea” and called on it to abandon its nuclear weapon and missile programmes. He stressed that Slovakia supported an immediate start of negotiations of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. Substantive and constructive engagement of nuclear-weapons States was inevitable if nuclear arsenals were to be eliminated.

Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, stressed that the Non-Proliferation Treaty was and would remain the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and States had to commit to implementing its key provisions. He informed that the Netherlands would seek the chairmanship of the 2017 Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee.

Susana Malcorra, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Argentina, said that Argentina believed that the reactivation of the Conference ultimately depended on the political will of its members. The Conference ought to be provided with dialogue, dynamism, debate and ability to make decisions. The international community had to accelerate the reduction of existing arsenals, and it was time to move forward in negotiating such a treaty.

In a right of reply, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea categorically rejected the statements made by the Foreign Ministers of Slovakia and Argentina, saying that they did not contribute to promoting peaceful relations between sovereign States.

The Conference will next meet in public on Tuesday, 1 March at 10 a.m. to continue with the High-Level Segment.

High Level Segment

MIROSLAV LAJČÁK, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, categorically rejected the irresponsible and provocative nuclear test by “North Korea” and its launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which constituted a serious threat to regional stability and international peace and security. He called upon “North Korea” to abandon its nuclear weapon and missile programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

Mr. Lajčák regretted that the Conference on Disarmament had been unable to carry out its mandate for almost two decades, which had had serious negative implications for the disarmament landscape and international security. He also regretted that the 2015 Non-Proliferation Review Conference could not find a consensus on its final document, which underscored the lack of confidence within the non-proliferation regime. Trust and confidence were key elements for achieving success in nuclear disarmament. A world without nuclear weapons required mutually reinforcing measures, including a legally-binding instrument. Slovakia continued to support an immediate start of negotiations of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. Substantive and constructive engagement of nuclear-weapons States was inevitable if nuclear arsenals were to be eliminated. Also, banning nuclear weapons themselves might not guarantee their elimination. Finally, Slovakia recognized the increasing support for appointing a special coordinator on the expansion of the Conference’s membership.

BERT KOENDERS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, said that progress on disarmament and on confidence-building were crucial to promoting international peace and security. The Non-Proliferation Treaty was and would remain the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and States had to commit to implementing its key provisions. He expressed deep disappointment that the Review Conference had not led to the adoption of an outcome, and stated that the Netherlands would seek the chairmanship of the 2017 Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee. The Open-Ended Working Group on Taking Forward Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament Negotiations provided the international community with an opportunity to discuss initiatives, and all States should participate actively in its work. Measures to reach the “Global Zero” goal in a safe and secure manner could be legally-binding or not. Discussions had, however, to take account of humanitarian considerations, as well as security and stability. Mr. Koenders then underlined the importance of the verification of nuclear disarmament, as a world without nuclear weapons required iron-clad guarantees covering both military and peaceful nuclear cycles. In that regard, the Netherlands had accepted to co-Chair the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification. Continuing, he stressed the importance of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for explosive devices, which was a key priority for his country.

Mr. Koenders expressed deep concerns about the use of cluster munitions in Syria and in Yemen, in violation of international humanitarian law and of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. He also announced that the Netherlands would pledge 50,000 euros to the annual budget of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention’s Implementation Support Unit, and had earmarked 45 million euros to continue its demining operations in former conflict zones for another four years. Finally, Mr. Koenders expressed support to the transparent implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty, calling for an open debate on the use of armed drones and transparency in that regard.

SUSANA MALCORRA, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Argentina, noted that the Conference on Disarmament remained deadlocked and had been unable to achieve any results since 1996. The Conference had to be put to work again in order to fulfil its mandate of negotiating multilateral nuclear disarmament instruments. Argentina believed that the reactivation of the Conference ultimately depended on the political will of its members, and remained open to debate and reflect on all aspects related to the functioning of the Conference. The Conference ought to be provided with dialogue, dynamism, debate and ability to make decisions, thus avoiding its marginalization and allowing it to fulfil the purpose for which it had been created – multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament.

Ms. Malcorra stated that the goals outlines in the First Special Session in 1978 remained in full force. In that context, Argentina had granted priority treatment to the issue of nuclear disarmament, participating in every discussion and forum where that issue had been raised. It was worrisome that there had been no concrete progress over recent years in nuclear disarmament, unlike what had happened in terms of non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The general and complete elimination of nuclear weapons was the only guarantee against the use or threat of those weapons. Argentina welcomed the creation of the Open-Ended Working Group which would focus on the question of effective and concrete measures and legal standards needed for nuclear disarmament. The international community had to accelerate the reduction of existing arsenals, and Argentina believed that the time was ripe to move forward in negotiations for such a treaty. Ms. Malcorra highlighted the importance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran. She condemned the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 6 January and deemed it imperative that compliance with the obligations under the Security Council resolutions be met. Argentina also condemned the launch of a space rocket made using ballistic missile technology. Finally, Argentina regretted that the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 2015 could not adopt a final document.

Right of Reply

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, speaking in right of reply to the statements made by the Foreign Ministers of Slovakia and Argentina, said that its nuclear test had been conducted in line with the country’s right to defence. As regard the satellite launch, which had been successfully carried out, that had also been an exercise of an independent and legitimate right in line with the principles of the peaceful use of outer space. The statements by the Foreign Ministers of Slovakia and Argentina were categorically rejected, as they could not contribute to promoting peaceful relations between nations.


For use of the information media; not an official record

DC16/008E