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PAKISTAN MISSION TO THE

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

FIRST COMMITTEE

STATEMENT BY THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF PAKISTAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE IN GENEVA ON "CONCLUSION OF EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS TO ASSURE NON-NUCLEAR WEAPON STATES AGAINST THE USE OR THREAT OF USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS" ON 7 NOVEMBER 1995

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to introduce the draft resolution in document A/C.1/50/L.39 entitled "Conclusion of Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons".

The Final Document of the first Special Session on Disarmament states, in paragraph 56: "The most effective guarantee against the danger of nuclear war and the use of nuclear weapons is nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons". Pending the achievement of this goal, the Final Document states in paragraph 57 that "the nuclear weapon States have special responsibilities to undertake measures aimed at preventing the outbreak of nuclear war". In this context, paragraph 58 of the Final Document states, "all States, in particular nuclear weapon States, should consider as soon as possible various proposals designed to secure the avoidance of the use of nuclear weapons, the prevention of nuclear war and related objectives, where possible through international agreement".

Since 1978, the UN General Assembly has asked the Conference on Disarmament to negotiate an international agreement to assure Non-Nuclear Weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. It is unfortunate that despite the passage of so many years, it has not been possible to reach agreement on an international instrument to provide credible assurances to Non-Nuclear Weapon States. The assurances offered in Security Council resolution 255 (1968) as well as those contained in statements made at SSOD I were all conditional and qualified. They offered no guarantees to Non-Nuclear Weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

Although the Cold War is over, and the impediments of the rival military alliances have been removed, the Nuclear Weapon States have yet to provide unconditional, universal and legally binding guarantees to Non-Nuclear Weapon States. This year, prior to the NPT Review and Extension Conference, the Nuclear Weapon States made unilateral statements on security assurances which were then incorporated in the form of positive and negative security assurances to Non-Nuclear Weapon States in Security Council Resolution 984 (1995). My delegation has already pointed out the shortcomings of this resolution. First, the statements of 4 of the 5 Nuclear Weapon States provide only conditional and qualified assurances to Non-Nuclear Weapon States. Only the Chinese assurances are unconditional and unqualified. Second, the assistance to Non-Nuclear Weapon States envisaged under the Security Council is subject to multiple veto of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Therefore, these assurances are not credible. Third, the assurances are not universal but restricted only to the Non-Nuclear Weapon States parties to the NPT. This is inconsistent with the UN Charter which provides for unconditional and comprehensive security assurances to all States individually by Member States or collectively through action by the Security Council. Finally, it is unfortunate that the CD - the single multilateral body on disarmament - was excluded from the consideration and finalization of these latest offers of security assurances.

There is wide-spread support among the Non-Nuclear Weapon States for the negotiation in the Conference on Disarmament on an internationally binding convention to provide assurances to these States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. The Group of 21 has expressed its regret that the CD was not able to re-establish its ad hoc Committee on Negative Security Assurances during its 1995 session.

The draft resolution in document A/C.1/50/L.39 endorses these objectives. It recalls the long history of the consideration of this question at the General Assembly and in the CD. It notes the recent adoption of Security Council resolution 984 and the views expressed thereon. Finally, it recommends that the CD should actively continue intensive negotiations to reach an early agreement on this subject, taking into account the broad-based support for the conclusion of an international Convention.

It is the hope of the Pakistan delegation that the draft resolution will be adopted unanimously by this Committee and the General Assembly.

For further information please contact:
Pakistan Mission, 8 East 65th Street, New York NY 10021.
Tel: (212) 879.8600 or E-Mail: pakistan@undp.org