[EXCERPTS] CONTRIBUTION OF NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE ZONES
TO DISARMAMENT HIGHLIGHTED IN DISARMAMENT COMMISSION
22 April 1997 Press Release DC/2580
Speakers Say Four Existing Treaties Raise Prospect of Nuclear-Free Southern Hemisphere
The contribution new nuclear-weapon-free zones could make
towards disarmament efforts was highlighted this morning in the
Disarmament Commission, as it discussed nuclear disarmament,
limitations on conventional weapons and the upcoming fourth General
Assembly session on disarmament. The representative of Viet Nam
said that the 1967 Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in
Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco), the South
Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga), the African
Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) and the
South-East Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (Bangkok
Treaty) had raised the prospect of a nuclear-weapon-free Southern
hemisphere. Those regional efforts should be supported by the
nuclear-weapon States. Thailand's representative said that adoption
of the 1995 Bangkok Treaty had reaffirmed the obligations of the
signatories under the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons (NPT), guaranteed the right to use nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes, and safeguarded the environment from nuclear
waste. The representative of Mongolia noted that it had declared
itself to be a "single-State" nuclear-weapon-free zone. The
representative of New Zealand told the Commission that virtually all
the Southern hemisphere and significant parts of the Northern
hemisphere, were now covered by nuclear-weapon-free zones and
that could be built upon to reinforce progress towards disarmament.
The differing provisions of each treaty might make the creation of
formal linkages complex and difficult, but there was scope for
developing political links between the four existing or potential
nuclear-weapon-free zones. The representatives of Ecuador, Canada
and Bangladesh also addressed the Commission. The Commission
will meet again this afternoon at 3 p.m. to continue its general debate.
_----------_ * Meeting No. 210 was a closed meeting.
Work Programme
The Commission on Disarmament met this morning to continue its
general debate. During its 1997 substantive session, which will
conclude on 13 May, the Commission will consider: the
establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones; the proposed fourth
special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament;
and guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and
disarmament, with particular emphasis on the consolidation of peace,
in the context of General Assembly resolution 51/45 N. (For further
details, see Press Release DC/2579 issued 21 April.)
Statements
PETER RIDER (New Zealand) said virtually all the Southern
hemisphere and significant parts of the Northern hemisphere were
now covered by nuclear- weapon-free zones. The potential existed
to build upon that and reinforce progress towards disarmament. The
differing provisions of each treaty might make the creation of formal
linkages complex and difficult, but there was scope for developing
political links between the four existing or potential
nuclear-weapon-free zones. Brazil's introduction of General
Assembly resolution 51/45 B on a nuclear-weapon-free Southern
hemisphere and adjacent areas was an important first step, which
would lead to increased links and cooperation between
nuclear-weapon-free zones. His Government, both nationally and
with like-minded colleagues, was ready to propose further steps for
the Commission's consideration.
He said it was not in the interests of the overall disarmament and
arms control agenda for any country to stand in the way of a General
Assembly special session in 1999, which could provide an efficient
structure for disarmament efforts. The session must deliver a
substantive and balanced outcome, not an insuperable obstacle. A
possible draft agenda could include both nuclear and conventional
items and the disarmament machinery. Such a holistic approach was
necessary if the special session was to develop a practical
programme on which nations could draw to assist their disarmament
efforts.
.......
Disarmament Commission - 3 - Press Release DC/2580 211th
Meeting (AM) 22 April 1997
JARGALSAIKHANY ENKHSAIKHAN (Mongolia) said that the
importance of nuclear-weapon-free zones were gaining importance.
His Government believed that such a zone should be created in the
Middle East. Also, his Government had made efforts to promote the
creation of such a zone in Central Asia. Consultations between
Mongolia and the Kyrgyz Republic had demonstrated that the idea
was gaining support. Many States were embracing the idea.
He said the recent non-aligned ministerial meeting in New Delhi had
declared its support for Mongolia's efforts to institutionalize its status
as a nuclear-weapon-free zone, as declared in 1992. The support
expressed by Mongolia's two neighbouring nuclear Powers, China
and the Russian Federation, as well as by Japan, the Western
European States and Others, had shown that the notion of a
"single-State zone" was politically possible and acceptable.
A single-State nuclear-weapon-free zone had distinct advantages, he
said. The geographic scope was well-defined and there was no need
for intra- zonal negotiation or coordination. A Disarmament
Commission working group could consider the question of
single-State zones with a view to establishing guidelines or
recommendations for the General Assembly.
The proposed fourth special session of the General Assembly on
disarmament should assess the post-cold-war disarmament situation
and the need for a different approach to security, he said. It should
reaffirm the central role of the United Nations in disarmament and
should set a disarmament agenda for the twenty-first century. It was
important that it agree on a phased programme for the reduction and
eventual elimination of nuclear-weapon stockpiles. Significant
conventional disarmament was only possible in the context of nuclear
disarmament, he said.
EMILIO IZQUIERDO (Ecuador) expressed satisfaction at the
recent thirtieth anniversary of the opening for signing of the 1967
Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and
the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco), which had, together with other
treaties, established a vast swath of nuclear weapon-free territory in
the Southern hemisphere.
Disarmament Commission - 4 - Press Release DC/2580 211th
Meeting (AM) 22 April 1997
GORDON VACHON (Canada) said the establishment of additional
nuclear- weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely
arrived at among the States concerned, particularly in regions
afflicted with conflicts, enhanced regional and global peace and
security and contributed to non-proliferation and disarmament. He
encouraged adherence by the nuclear-weapon States to the
nuclear-weapon-free zones arrangements. His Government
supported the countries of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean
and the South Pacific in concluding nuclear-weapon-free zone
treaties.
He welcomed the consensus in the General Assembly on the annual
resolution urging the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East
region and noted progress in South-East Asia -- represented by the
Bangkok Treaty. He also welcomed initiatives that encouraged zones
in Central Asia, such as the Almaty Declaration adopted by the
leaders of Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
He said discussions on the proposed special session of the General
Assembly on disarmament should point the way to an appropriate
framework and balanced agenda that would attract consensus.
Canada would present a paper to the working group entitled
"Criteria for evaluating potential agreements or measures to control
arms and promote stability".
ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) said he
wished to reiterate his Government's policy commitment to the
concept and principle of nuclear-weapon- free zones and also zones
of peace. The total elimination of nuclear weapons was his
Government's goal. Nuclear-weapon-free zones could supplement
global efforts towards the ultimate objective of a world free from
nuclear threats.
Weapons of mass destruction naturally received more attention than
so-called conventional arms, he continued. And yet, successive
accumulations of such arms not commensurate with legitimate
security concerns could also be a major destabilizing factor. It was
often said that developing countries, in particular, should exercise the
utmost restraint with respect to defence expenditure, so as to ensure
that procurement did not exceed legitimate security requirements.
Yet, in 1996 military expenditure as a share of gross domestic
product stayed constant for most countries.
Economy in the defence sector would mean more funds for the
development sector, he said. However, to be effective and realistic,
such a prescription should impose restrictions and constraints on
arms exporting countries. It was unrealistic to expect producers not
to manufacture what they could profitably sell and not to consolidate
markets through persuasion and liberal incentives.
Disarmament Commission - 5 - Press Release DC/2580 211th
Meeting (AM) 22 April 1997
MANOP MEKRAYOONTHONG (Thailand) said that the
South-East Asia Nuclear- Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Bangkok
Treaty) of 15 December 1995 was the first treaty to be jointly
concluded by all 10 countries of the region. It sought to reaffirm the
obligations of the signatories under the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to guarantee the right to
use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and to safeguard the
environment from nuclear waste. The Treaty also recognized the
rights of States under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea, in particular with respect to freedom of the high seas
and rights of innocent passage, archipelagic sea lanes passage or
transit passage of ships and aircraft consistent with the Charter of the
United Nations.
A Protocol attached to the Bangkok Treaty had been opened for
signature by the five nuclear-weapon States, he said. As stated in the
Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and
Disarmament, adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension
Conference of the NPT, the cooperation of all nuclear
weapon-States was necessary for nuclear-weapon-free zones to be
of maximum effectiveness. He urged the five nuclear-weapon States
to endorse the Protocol to the Bangkok Treaty.
PHAM QUANG VINH (Viet Nam) said that nuclear-weapon-free
zones greatly contributed to enhancing international peace and
security. The Treaty of Tlatelolco, which established the first such
zone, would be 30 years old this year. Three more such zones had
been established -- the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty
(Treaty of Rarotonga), the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone
Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) and the Bangkok Treaty. Taken
together, those treaties had raised the prospect of a
nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere. Those regional efforts
should be supported by the nuclear-weapon States, he said.
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