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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001023

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

This is UNFC-11

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C1 Day 9 10-24 Thematic Debate on Regional Disarmament and
Security
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1. (U) Summary: The First Committee on Disarmament and
International Security conducted its thematic debate on
regional disarmament and security on October 24.
Representatives from the following states spoke: Brazil on
behalf of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and
Associated States, Angola on behalf of the United Nations
Standing Advisory Committee for Security Questions in Central
Africa, Burma, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Algeria,
Malta, Peru, and Nepal. End Summary.

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10-24, Day 9 - Brazil on behalf of MERCOSUR and Associated
States, Angola on behalf of the United Nations Standing
Advisory Committee for Security Questions in Central Africa,
Burma, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Algeria, Malta, Peru,
and Nepal
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2. (U) Brazil on behalf of MERCOSUR and Associated States:
Noted that the UN Regional Center in Latin America and the
Caribbean (UN-LiREC) in Lima was the only one of three
centers in the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) that
has a mandate to address peace, disarmament, and
socioeconomic development. MERCOSUR stated that the Center
had established cooperation with some UN agencies and civil
society to help states implement disarmament. It noted that
the Center organized seminars, such as the June 2008 seminar
in Rio de Janeiro on Developing Regional Instruments for
Marking and Trafficking Weapons. MERCOSUR highlighted the UN
Secretary General's (SYG) proposal encouraging states to
consider alternative ways to fund the Center.


3. (U) Angola on behalf of the United Nations Standing
Advisory Committee for Security Questions in Central Africa:
The Committee highlighted its accomplishments, including the
signing of a Non-Aggression Pact in Yaounde in 1996, as well
as the creation of the Central African Multinational Force
(FOMAC). It noted that during its 27th Ministerial Meeting
in Luanda last May, the Committee focused on strengthening
cooperation in the sub-region, addressing the issue of small
arms and light weapons (SA/LW),and elaborating the code of
conduct for security and defense forces in Central Africa.
It stated during the upcoming 28th Ministerial Meeting in
Libreville that it would focus on the rationalization of the
Committee and the May 2007 Sao Tome Initiative.


4. (U) Burma: Commended work performed by the UN Regional
Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific in
Kathmandu to promote international and regional dialogue.
Burma expressed hope that the Center would serve the needs of
its 43 states and would act as the UN's primary entity for
security, as well as organize meetings and conferences on
security issues. It stated that it shared the SYG's view
that resource shortages affected the Center's ability to meet
its mandate.


5. (U) Pakistan: Argued that regional-level CBMs have to be
tailored to the specific needs of the region and should begin
with arrangements on transparency, openness, and risk
reduction. Pakistan added that CBMs should be pursued in
conjunction with peaceful settlement of disputes, in
accordance with the UN Charter. It stated that in South
Asia it is pursuing a "composite dialogue process" that
includes CBMs in the nuclear and conventional fields. To
that end, it proposed establishing a Strategic Restraint
Regime (SRR) in South Asia with three-interlocking elements:
conflict resolution, nuclear and missile restraint, and
conventional balance.


6. (U) Azerbaijan: Argued that Armenia had been building-up
arms in Nagorno-Karabakh and had hidden up to 316 tanks, 324
armored combat vehicles, and 322 artillery systems in its
occupied territories. Azerbaijan called on the international
community to count those numbers toward Armenia's arms
supplies. It stated that the occupied territories gave
Armenia territory to use repair facilities, and transfer and
hide arms. Azerbaijan stated that regardless of being
involved in a war, it continued to destroy arms, in
conformity with the Tashkent Agreement. Azerbaijan added
that any talks about stability would remain irrelevant unless
Armenia became serious about resolving the conflict.


7. (U) Colombia: Stated that UN-LiREC's activities, such as
facilitating cooperation on training courses, have been
valuable. It highlighted its efforts to establish
"synergies" among UN offices, noting that Colombia had
started consultations in 2005 with the UN Program for
Development and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Colombia added that it had signed an agreement with UNODC
that had resulted in facilitating training courses with
funding and support from UN-LiREC. It stated that the Center
had played an increasingly active role in implementing the UN
Program of Action (PoA) on SA/LW.


8. (U) Algeria: Introduced a draft resolution entitled
"Strengthening Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean
Region." Algeria expressed hope that the resolution would
encourage the Mediterranean states to strengthen further
their cooperation in combating terrorism, international
crime, illicit arms transfers, and illicit drug production,
consumption, and trafficking. It noted a new preambular
paragraph that welcomed the adoption of the July Paris Summit
joint declaration launching a reinforced partnership, the
Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean.


9. (U) Malta: Stated that Malta had actively participated in
diverse regional institutions and initiatives, such as the
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Mediterranean
Action Plan and the Med Forum. It added that it looked
forward to working with European Union-Med partners in the
Barcelona process. Malta highlighted its hosting this year
of the first ever EU-Arab League foreign affairs ministerial
meeting and noted that it provided an opportunity for
dialogue and increased cooperation. Malta welcomed the
adoption of the EU's Pact on Immigration and Asylum.


10. (U) Peru: Praised the work of UN-LiREC, stating that
UN-LiREC had established relations with several UN agencies,
including UNODC and the Office of the High Commission for
Human Rights. Peru highlighted that the Center's activities
had been possible due to voluntary contributions. It
introduced a draft resolution entitled "Regional Center of
the United Nations for Peace, Disarmament and Development in
Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC)." It asked the SYG
to provide for the biennial 2010-211, the necessary support
to assure sustainability of the Center's activities and
operations.


11. (U) Nepal: Introduced a draft resolution entitled "United
Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and
the Pacific." Nepal stated that as the Center's host it
would commit its full support by consolidating the Katmandu
process. It urged member states to contribute generously to
the Center's programs.
Khalilzad