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Voice of America

DATE=1/23/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-209129
TITLE=U-N / DISARMAMENT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=GENEVA

INTRO: AN OLD ARGUMENT IS CLOUDING THE CURRENT SESSION OF THE U-N DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE IN GENEVA, WITH WESTERN NATIONS AND NON-ALIGNED STATES AT ODDS OVER THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED TOWARD THE ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM 61 NATIONS APPEAR TO HAVE REACHED AN IMPASSE EVEN BEFORE THEY CAN BEGIN SUBSTANTIVE NEGOTIATIONS.

TEXT: THE CONFERENCE IS MIRED IN A PROCEDURAL WRANGLE. THE DELEGATES ENTERED GENEVA'S PALACE OF NATIONS FOR THE START OF THEIR WINTER SESSION EARLIER THIS WEEK WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT ON AN AGENDA FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS. TWO PLENARY MEETINGS AND A HOST OF INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS HAVE FAILED TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE.

WESTERN AND OTHER DEVELOPED NATIONS WANT TO MOVE RAPIDLY TO FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS ON A NEW INTERNATIONAL TREATY THAT WOULD BAN THE PRODUCTION OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS FISSILE MATERIAL -- THE PLUTONIUM AND ENRICHED URANIUM USED IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

THESE NATIONS SAY THAT SHOULD BE THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE. BUT A GROUP OF NON-ALIGNED STATES TAKES A DIFFERENT VIEW.

THE NON-ALIGNED BLOC WANTS THE CONFERENCE TO ESTABLISH A NEW COMMITTEE THAT WOULD BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS ON THE COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS WITHIN A TIME-BOUND FRAMEWORK.

THE NON-ALIGNED GROUP IS VOWING TO BLOCK NEGOTIATIONS ON OTHER NUCLEAR ISSUES UNTIL THEIR DEMAND IS MET. THAT IS NO SMALL THREAT SINCE THE DECISIONS OF THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE ARE TAKEN BY CONSENSUS.

THE STALEMATE HAS PROMPTED SUGGESTIONS THAT THE CONFERENCE SHOULD SET ASIDE NUCLEAR QUESTIONS FOR THE TIME BEING, AND FOCUS INSTEAD ON A CONVENTIONAL DISARMAMENT ISSUE -- THE GROWING CALLS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE BAN ON ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINES.

WESTERN NATIONS WANT TO MOVE AHEAD ON THAT ISSUE, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PROPOSED BAN ON FISSILE MATERIAL.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR JOELLE BOURGEOIS -- SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER AT THURSDAY'S PLENARY MEETING -- SUMMED UP THE WESTERN VIEW.

MY COUNTRY REMAINS CONVINCED, AS OTHERS ARE, INCLUDING OUR FRIENDS FROM THE NON-ALIGNED GROUP, THAT NUCLEAR ISSUES MUST REMAIN AT THE HEART OF THE DISCUSSIONS OF OUR CONFERENCE.

NON-ALIGNED REPRESENTATIVES SAY THEY ARE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE BAN ON FISSILE MATERIALS. BUT SAY THAT SHOULD BE JUST ONE OF THE TASKS ASSIGNED TO THE PROPOSED COMMITTEE THAT WOULD BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS ON THE COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

THE DEMAND WAS FIRST VOICED BY INDIA DURING LAST YEAR'S FINAL ROUNDS OF NEGOTIATIONS ON THE NUCLEAR TEST BAN. INDIA BLOCKED CONSENSUS IN GENEVA ON THE DRAFT TEST BAN BECAUSE IT FAILED TO INCLUDE A COMMITMENT BY THE NUCLEAR POWERS TO ELIMINATE THEIR ARSENALS.

THE DOCUMENT WAS NONETHELESS SUBMITTED TO THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHERE IT WAS EVENTUALLY APPROVED.

WESTERN EXPERTS SEE A BAN ON THE PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL AS THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP IN THE DISARMAMENT PROCESS. BUT INDIA AND ITS NON-ALIGNED ALLIES SAY THE PROPOSED ACCORD, LIKE THE TEST BAN, IS AIMED MORE AT PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS, AND WILL DO LITTLE TO PROMOTE THE GOAL OF ELIMINATING EXISTING NUCLEAR ARSENALS.

(SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/JWH/RAE

23-Jan-97 11:14 AM EST (1614 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America