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 -------------- C1 Day 9 10-24 Thematic Debate on Regional Disarmament and Security -------------- ¶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. -------------- 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 -------------- ¶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