DATE=1/21/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-209021
TITLE=U-N / DISARMAMENT (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=GENEVA
INTRO: THE U-N DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE CONVENED ITS ANNUAL WINTER SESSION IN GENEVA TUESDAY, AMID A MAJOR DISPUTE OVER HOW BEST TO PURSUE THE GOAL OF NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS THE IMPASSE IS THREATENING TO DELAY THE NEGOTIATIONS.
TEXT: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA, THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE CONVENED WITHOUT CONSENSUS ON AN AGENDA FOR THE SESSION.
THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM 61 NATIONS ON THE NEED TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS ON A CONVENTION BANNING THE PRODUCTION OF SO-CALLED FISSILE MATERIAL -- THE PLUTONIUM AND ENRICHED URANIUM USED IN NUCLEAR WARHEADS.
BUT A GROUP OF 21 NON-ALIGNED STATES, LED BY INDIA, INSISTS THERE MUST ALSO BE TALKS ON THE PHASED ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS WITHIN A TIME-BOUND FRAMEWORK. AND THE GROUP OF 21 SAYS IT WILL BLOCK DISCUSSION OF OTHER NUCLEAR ISSUES UNTIL THAT DEMAND IS MET.
WESTERN DELEGATES HERE ARE CALLING THE NON-ALIGNED DEMAND A RECIPE FOR STALEMATE. WHILE CHINA HAS INDICATED SOME SUPPORT FOR THE NON-ALIGNED POSITION, THE OTHER FOUR NUCLEAR POWERS OPPOSE IT, ARGUING THAT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE FOR THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE WHILE THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA -- THE TWO MAIN NUCLEAR POWERS -- ARE PURSUING THE DISARMAMENT STEPS SET FORTH IN THE START ONE AND TWO AGREEMENTS.
IN A SPEECH HERE TUESDAY, BRITAIN'S DELEGATE, MICHAEL WESTON, SAID THAT FOR THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE TO DEBATE THE ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AT THIS STAGE WOULD BE AN INTERESTING INTELLECTUAL EXERCISE, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE A USEFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROCESS,
ITALY'S FOREIGN MINISTER, LAMBERTO DINI, WHO ALSO ADDRESSED TUESDAY'S SESSION, SAID THE NON-ALIGNED THREAT TO DELAY THE NEGOTIATIONS HERE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
NO, I DO NOT HAVE MUCH SYMPATHY WITH THAT. I THINK AS I SAID IN MY STATEMENT THERE SHOULD BE NO RESPITE, THERE SHOULD BE NO SABATTICAL HERE. I THINK THAT WILL NOT BE UNDERSTOOD BY OUR OWN PEOPLE AND BY OUR NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS. SO WE MUST PUSH AHEAD.
U-S ENVOY STEPHEN LEDOGAR SAID THE PROPOSED BAN ON THE PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL WOULD BE A MAJOR STEP IN WHAT HE TERMED THE ONGOING PROCESS OF REDUCING THE NUMBER OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND PREVENTING NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION.
CLEARLY IT WOULD BE ANOTHER MAJOR STEP IN THE CONTINUUM OF ACTIONS THAT HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR SOME TIME NOW TO MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
DIPLOMATS HERE SAY IT COULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS OR EVEN MONTHS TO RESOLVE THE PROCEDURAL DISPUTE. AND SOME ARE PREDICTING THE CONFERENCE WILL INSTEAD DEVOTE ITS ATTENTION TO ANOTHER ISSUE -- A PROPOSAL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE BAN ON ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINES.
THE UNITED STATES TUESDAY FORMALLY JOINED THE GROWING LIST OF COUNTRIES SUPPORTING THE BAN. AND SOME DELEGATES HERE SAY IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE NEGOTIATIONS ON A TREATY WITHIN ONE OR TWO YEARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/JWH/MMK
21-Jan-97 11:10 AM EST (1610 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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