Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK1021
2008-11-05 14:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

63RD UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE (UNFC): DAY EIGHT, NINE

Tags:  CD CDG PARM PREL UNGA 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001021 

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CD CDG PARM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: 63RD UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE (UNFC): DAY EIGHT, NINE
AND TEN OF THEMATIC DEBATE - DISARMAMENT MACHINERY

This is UNFC-10

---------------------
C1 Days 8, 9, and 10 10-23, 10-24 and 10-27 Thematic Debate
on Disarmament Machinery
---------------------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001021

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CD CDG PARM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: 63RD UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE (UNFC): DAY EIGHT, NINE
AND TEN OF THEMATIC DEBATE - DISARMAMENT MACHINERY

This is UNFC-10

--------------
C1 Days 8, 9, and 10 10-23, 10-24 and 10-27 Thematic Debate
on Disarmament Machinery
--------------


1. (U) Summary: The First Committee on Disarmament and
International Security conducted its thematic debate on
disarmament machinery on October 23, 24, and 27. This
summary comprises all three days of the debate. On the first
day, representatives from the following states spoke: France
on behalf of the European Union (EU),Brazil on behalf of the
Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR),Indonesia on behalf of the
Nonaligned Movement (NAM),and Qatar on behalf of the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC). On the second day,
representatives from the following states spoke: Netherlands,
Venezuela, Turkey, and Norway. Representatives from the
following states concluded the debate on October 27: Cuba,
Malaysia, Canada, India, Chile, and Nigeria on behalf of the
African Group. End Summary.

--------------
10-23, Day 8 - France on behalf of the EU, Brazil on behalf
of MERCOSUR, Indonesia on behalf of the NAM, and Qatar on
behalf of the GCC
--------------


2. (U) France on behalf of the EU: Emphasized that the
Conference on Disarmament (CD) was the single forum for
multilateral negotiations. The EU found encouraging the work
the CD undertook in 2008, since establishing the Six
Presidents (P6) platform. The EU stated that it could accept
CD/1840 but added that it would have preferred a stronger
emphasis on negotiation. It also stated that it hoped to see
the CD enlarge. The EU expressed hope that the United Nations
Disarmament Commission (UNDC) could resume its role to
realize its mandate as a consultative body.


3. (U) Brazil on behalf of MERCOSUR: Regretted that the UNDC
concluded its triennial session without results and that nine
years had passed without reaching consensus. MERCOSUR stated
that it was time to consider other ways to carry out the work
of the UNDC. MERCOSUR called for negotiations without delay
on a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT). It also
requested that the CD initiate negotiations on a legally
binding document to address the prevention of an arms race in
outer space (PAROS).


4. (U) Indonesia on behalf of the Nonaligned Movement (NAM):
Stated that it would not support any 2009 UNDC agenda items

that were inconsistent with General Assembly (GA) resolution
52/492. (Comment: The resolution states that at least one
UNDC topic should concern nuclear disarmament. End Comment.)
The NAM added that the next cycle of the UNDC should
comprise recommendations for achieving the objectives of
nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, as well as a draft
declaration of the 2010s as the fourth disarmament decade.
The NAM urged the CD to create an ad hoc committee on nuclear
disarmament.


5. (U) Qatar on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council:
Stated that the GCC states were coordinating to strengthen
regional cooperation, including on improving border control.
The GCC stated that member states had pursued measures to
fulfill international and national obligations concerning
nuclear disarmament, such as facilitating training for Gulf
professionals and raising media awareness on implementation
and verification. The GCC argued that Israel's accession to
the NPT would contribute to preserving the disarmament
machinery.

--------------
10-24, Day 9 - Netherlands, Venezuela, Turkey, and Norway
--------------


6. (U) Netherlands: Introduced a draft resolution on behalf
of the extended bureau of the UNDC entitled "Report of the
Disarmament Commission." The Netherlands noted that the UNDC
held its organizational meeting in March and approved its
general program of work (PoW) and established Group I and
Group II to address achieving nuclear disarmament and
nonproliferation, and pursuing CBMs in the field of
conventional weapons, respectively.


7. (U) Venezuela: As the last president of the CD in 2008,
Venezuela introduced a draft resolution entitled "Report of
the Conference on Disarmament." Venezuela stated that the
resolution would have the GA recognize the need to conduct
multilateral negotiations with the aim of reaching agreement
on issues. It added that it would also call on the CD to
intensify consultations. Venezuela noted that the six chairs
of 2009 were already in consultation with the current chairs.


8. (U) Turkey: Reiterated it believed that members of the CD
should start negotiations on an FMCT. It added that the CD
should undertake new initiatives, such as advancing negative
security assurances (NSAs) and PAROS. Turkey stated that it
strongly believed that the P6 platform had been effective and
welcomed the incoming presidents' intention to use it. On
expanding CD membership, it stated that it does not
constitute a priority and added that it should be considered
on a case-by-case basis. (Note: a reference to Greek desires
for membership. End Note)


9. (U) Norway: Advocated suggestions to improve the UNDC's
working methods, to include shorter UNDC sessions, with a
focus on one or two clearly defined topics. Norway suggested
that the UNDC issue a Chair's summary, rather than a
negotiated document. It expressed hope that the UNDC engage
in self-evaluation. Norway advocated achieving consensus on
modalities and format of an SSOD-IV. To that end, it noted
that it had previously provided funding. Norway lamented the
inability to negotiate an FMCT and called for more progress
in the CD.

--------------
10-27, Day 10 - Cuba, Malaysia, Canada, India, Chile, and
Nigeria on behalf of the African Group
--------------


10. (U) Cuba: Reiterated the NAM's call to establish an ad
hoc committee on nuclear disarmament, adding that it should
be the basis to reach consensus within the CD. Also
reiterated the NAM's recommendation for the next cycle of the
UNDC to comprise recommendations on nuclear disarmament and
nonproliferation, and a draft declaration of the 2010s as the
fourth disarmament decade. It expressed hope that the latter
could propel the disarmament community out of stagnation.


11. (U) Malaysia: Deemed the 1996 International Court of
Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on the threat of nuclear
weapons a milestone in efforts to address nuclear
disarmament. Malaysia stated that the message should
resonate in states' actions to reinvigorate the multilateral
process to pursue nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.
Malaysia introduced a draft resolution to follow up on the
advisory opinion.


12. (U) Canada: Noted that this year marked the 30th
anniversary of the first special session of the UNGA on
disarmament (SSOD-I). It reiterated that the reason for a
broad mandate was to revitalize the disarmament agenda.
Canada stated that the Ottawa and Oslo processes represented
successful alternatives. It added that it was encouraged by
the progresses since 2004, to make the First Committee a
forum of discussion. It stated that all states have
collective ownership of the disarmament machinery and
therefore hold responsibility to repair it.


13. (U) India: Argued that the CD should continue to conduct
its work by consensus, and added that although it was unable
to reach consensus in the past, its deliberations were
interesting and showed a desire to cooperate. India stated
that it attached importance to the UN Secretary General's
(SYG) advisory board on disarmament matters and welcomed its
report's call to strengthen the SYG's role in generating
political will in the field. India also welcomed the opening
of the UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia
and the Pacific, located in Kathmandu.


14. (U) Chile: Called for greater democratization within the
disarmament machinery. It argued that the subsidiary bodies
of the UN system were not an end to themselves, but resources
that satisfied the political needs of the international
community. Chile also argued that disarmament, and not the
CD, was a global public good. Chile stated that the CD could
be reformed and broadened to obtain transparency and
legitimacy. It praised the Ottawa and Oslo processes as
examples of successful disarmament measures.


15. (U) Nigeria on behalf of the African Group: Presented two
draft resolutions, one on the UN Regional Center for Peace
and Disarmament in Africa and the other on the UN disarmament
fellowship, training, and advisory services.
Khalilzad