CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT HEARS FROM GROUP OF 21 ON PREVENTION OF AN ARMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE AND AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN ON NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION

The Conference on Disarmament this morning heard from India on behalf of the Group of 21 on the prevention of an arms race in outer space and from Australia and Japan on the outcome of the final meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.

India, speaking on behalf of the Group of 21, said that the role of space technology had become pervasive in day to day life. Never before had information, communication, banking, economic transactions, navigation, and even political and strategic decision making been so dependent on space-based technologies. Outer space and other celestial bodies were the common heritage of mankind and had to be used, explored and utilized for the benefit and interest of all mankind in a spirit of cooperation. All States with major space capabilities had a special responsibility to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and to the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties. The Group was deeply concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic-missile defence systems and the pursuit of advanced military technologies capable of being deployed in outer space. It was time to start negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on matters related to the prevention of an arms race in outer space.

Australia said that the final meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament had taken place in Vienna from 2 to 4 July and had issued its final Communiqué. It was worthy to note that a majority of the relevant recommendations of the Commission’s report had been reflected wholly, substantially or in part in the Review Conference’s agreed action plans. The Nuclear Summit held in Washington last April had also addressed many of the elements that had been identified in the Commission’s report. Australia also noted that the Co-Chairs were currently in Geneva discussing plans for a Global Center for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament.

Japan, also speaking on the Commission’s Communiqué, said that the Commission had been working very hard to produce a very important report that had great impact on the work of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. Japan draw the Conference’s attention to some of the paragraphs of the Communiqué in which the Commission expressed its deep concern at the failure of the Conference on Disarmament to commence work on a treaty to stop the production of nuclear materials intended for weapons use. The Commission also said that the failure of the Conference to commence fissile material cutoff treaty negotiations was a further setback and that, if necessary, governments should consider alternative means of commencing such negotiations. One should have in mind that the Commissioners had referred to the situation in the Conference in very explicit ways.

Also speaking this morning was the new Ambassador of Colombia making an opening statement and the outgoing Ambassador of Turkey making a farewell statement. China took the floor to pay tribute to the Ambassador of Turkey and to welcome the new Colombian Ambassador.

The next plenary of the Conference on Disarmament will be held on Thursday, 8 July at 10 a.m.

Statements

ALICIA VICTORIA ARANGO OLMOS (Colombia), in her first statement to the Conference on Disarmament, said that the Conference must adopt a programme of work so that it could assume its responsibilities as the principal negotiating forum on disarmament affairs. The goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons was an important one. People of the world could only live in a peaceful frame of mind once all nuclear weapons were eliminated. The resources spent on nuclear weapons could then also be used for the betterment of life on earth. The Conference must also commence negotiations on the issues of the prevention of an arms race in outer space as well as on negative security assurances.

Ms. Arango Olmos also highlighted the importance of the participation of civil society in the proceedings of the Conference. It was equally important to take up other issues of disarmament. Her country had taken several steps in combating and addressing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. The use of anti-personnel mines by terrorist organizations was also a problem. In her country many people had been victim of this practice.

AHMET UZUMCU (Turkey), in a farewell statement, said that he would be moving to The Hague as the new Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Security was essential for political and economic stability as well as growth and prosperity. Everyone benefited from a secure environment. During the Cold War, security had been based on mutual deterrence. States had become increasingly aware that more arms would not bring more security. Multilateral efforts towards disarmament and non-proliferation had become indispensable. Multilateralism was not a matter of choice, but rather a matter of necessity, especially at a time when the scourge of terrorism remained at the forefront and continued to plague many countries, including his own.

It was incumbent on all to build consensus on measures to meet common threats, said Mr. Uzumcu. States’ ability to respond effectively to the most pressing challenges to international peace and security depended heavily on how to make best use of multilateral fora, including the Conference on Disarmament. There was ample expertise in the Conference and the mere fact that it had successfully negotiated and concluded the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Chemical Weapons Convention was testament to the experience vested in it. Therefore, they should strive to rekindle the Conference and take stock of its capacity.

PAUL WILSON (Australia) said that the final meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament had taken place in Vienna from 2 to 4 July. The Commission’s final Communiqué was available on its website. The Commission was a joint Australian-Japanese initiative but it was an independent organization. Its Chairs had been named according to their individual capacities. The Commission’s substantial contributions to nuclear disarmament had also been recognized at the recent Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. It was worthy to note that a majority of the relevant recommendations of the Commission’s report had been reflected wholly, substantially or in part in the Review Conference’s agreed action plans. The Nuclear Summit held in Washington last April had also addressed many of the elements that had been identified in the Commission’s report.

Australia congratulated the Commissions’ Co-chairs and the 13 commissioners on their work, which helped to advance the debates and discussions on nuclear disarmament objectives. Mr. Wilson also noted that the Co-Chairs were currently in Geneva discussing plans for a Global Center for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament.

HAMID ALI RAO (India), speaking on behalf of the Group of 21, said that the role of space technology had become pervasive in day to day life. Never before had information, communication, banking, economic transactions, navigation, and even political and strategic decision making been so dependent on space-based technologies. The Group of 21 thus reiterated that outer space and other celestial bodies were the common heritage of mankind and had to be used, explored and utilized for the benefit and interest of all mankind in a spirit of cooperation. The exploration and use of outer space and other celestial bodies should be for peaceful purposes and should be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries.

The growing use of outer space increased the need for greater transparency, conference building measures and better information on the part of the international community, said Mr. Rao. All States with major space capabilities had a special responsibility to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and to the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties. The Group of 21 was deeply concerned over the negative implications of the development and deployment of anti-ballistic-missile defence systems and the pursuit of advanced military technologies capable of being deployed in outer space. Multilateral disarmament agreements provided the mechanism for States parties to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems. 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 prevent its weaponization. There was a need to consolidate and reinforce the current legal regime applicable to outer space and to enhance its effectiveness. It was time to start negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on matters related to the prevention of an arms race in outer space. As observed in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/28, the Conference had the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement on this issue.

WANG QUN (China) paid tribute to the Ambassador of Turkey and thanked him for his contributions to the work of the Conference on Disarmament and wished him all success in his new functions. He also welcomed the new Ambassador of Colombia and said that China was ready to collaborate with her.

AKIO SUDA (Japan), also speaking on the recent Communiqué by the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, said that the Commission had been working very hard to produce a very important report that had had great impact on the work of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. While the Commission was independent in its nature, its Commissioners were from 15 different States and it was thus worthwhile to look at what they had to say.

Mr. Suda said he wished to draw the Conference’s attention to some of the paragraphs of the Communiqué, especially Paragraph 22 in which the Commission expressed its deep concern at the failure of the Conference on Disarmament to commence work on a treaty to stop the production of nuclear materials intended for weapons use. In Paragraph 26, the Commission said the failure of the Conference to commence fissile material cutoff treaty negotiations was a further setback and that, if necessary, governments should consider alternative means of commencing such negotiations. One should have in mind that the Commissioners had referred to the situation in the Conference in very explicit ways.


For use of information media; not an official record

DC10/028E