64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001037 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CD CDG PARM PREL UNGA SUBJECT: 64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE: REGIONAL DISARMAMENT ¶1. (U) The UN First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) conducted its thematic debate on regional disarmament and security on October 21 and 22. Thirteen countries spoke about issues of regional disputes over territory, military build-ups and regional disarmament plans. ¶2. Malta (U) Malta declared that there could be no peace and security in Europe unless it was first achieved in the Mediterranean. It stressed the need to enhance dialogue and strengthen various Mediterranean and Euro-Mediterranean forums. It noted the difficulties presented by the situation in the Middle East and the phenomenon of irregular migration. Malta called on the international community to work towards addressing the Middle East problem in a holistic way and reiterated its support for a two-state solution. ¶3. Peru (U) Peru highlighted the importance of confidence-building measures and heightened transparency among the international community in achieving peace and security. It urged individual states to adhere to their respective international arms commitments. Peru urged the international community, including Latin American countries, to shift military expenditures towards humanitarian efforts. It stated that the confidence-building and security that come with disarmament are essential to promoting development. ¶4. Algeria (U) Algeria introduced a draft resolution on strengthening peace and security in the Mediterranean, which among other things recognized the entry into force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty. It also called for countries to consider confidence-building measures, and to fight transnational crime and terrorism. ¶5. Nepal (U) Nepal introduced a draft resolution on the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific. Nepal reiterated its commitment to consolidating the Kathmandu Process, and thanked Member States for their continued support. It stated that regional initiatives and instruments on disarmament and non-proliferation were crucial to attaining global disarmament and non-proliferation. ¶6. UAE (U) The UAE declared that Israel's possession of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) only served to encourage other states to acquire nuclear weapons. It called on the international community to adopt firm measures to address the situation. The UAE reiterated its support for measures designed to put political, economic, and diplomatic pressure on Israel to adhere to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It called on Israel to put its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and also called for Iran to comply with decisions of the IAEA. ¶7. Egypt (U) Egypt introduced two draft resolutions, the first concerning the establishment of a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East, and the second on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. Both were virtually identical to resolutions Egypt has introduced for many years. Egypt stated that when Israel joined the NPT the treaty would achieve universality in the Middle East. ¶8. Iraq (U) Iraq echoed other delegations' calls for Israel to adhere to the NPT and put its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, stating that a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East is not possible without Israel. It underlined the importance of such a zone in the Middle East, a strategic region of economic importance. Iraq expressed hope with the outcome of the 2009 Security Council summit on nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, and at the efforts of the United States and the Russian Federation to negotiate a successor to the START treaty. ¶9. Armenia (U) Armenia called the strengthening of existing disarmament agreements and verification systems a priority. It praised the efforts of the UN and regional players to stop the uncontrolled spread of SA/LW, and supported the UN Program of USUN NEW Y 00001037 002 OF 002 Action on SA/LW. It warned that restrictions on conventional weapons had been flouted, which was leading to an arms race in the Caucasus. It asserted that Azerbaijan had violated the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty. ¶10. Russia (U) Russia pointed out that the conflict in Abkhazia-South Ossetia in August of last year was attributable to the presence of large quantities of uncontrolled arms in the region. It stated the CFE Treaty had become out dated and expressed Russia's willingness to engage in dialogue to revise it. Russia highlighted the importance of a concrete commitment from its CFE Treaty partners on this issue. It pointed to Russian President Medvedev's initiative on a proposed security treaty that would cover the Euro-Atlantic area. ¶11. Pakistan (U) Pakistan highlighted the importance of bilateral efforts, confidence-building measures, dispute resolution, and arms limitation at the global level in promoting arms control and disarmament. It stated that arms control efforts must be tailored to the particular requirements of different regions, noting that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. Pakistan stated that it was pursuing a composite dialogue process in South Asia. ¶12. Cuba (U) Cuba criticized US military bases in Latin America, claiming that they did not promote regional security, but rather threatened it by committing acts of harassment and aggression, and promoting wars and confrontation between neighboring countries. It highlighted the bases in Colombia and the reassignment of the U.S. Fourth Fleet to the region, stating that they were used as a front to pursue U.S. political and economic interests in Latin America. Cuba called for their withdrawal, including the base in Guantanamo. ¶13. Azerbaijan (U) Azerbaijan called for joint efforts to address terrorism, non-proliferation, and ensuring energy security, and advocated a region in the Caucasus free of WMDs. It stated that civilian populations around the world are suffering due to the unlawful use of force exercised by certain states. Azerbaijan cited the conflicts in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh as examples of a threat to regional and international peace and security. It stated that Armenia is currently occupying one-fifth of Azeri territory, and that war crimes and genocide have occurred in the region. It mentioned the alarming number of uncontrolled Armenian arms in the area and closed by stating that Azerbaijan aims to liberate all occupied territories. ¶14. Venezuela (U) Venezuela stated that the creation of the Rio Group had been a step forward in creating a platform for dialogue and helped to promote Venezuelan ideals of peace, respect for sovereignty, and non-interference. It stated that the presence of US military bases, especially those in Colombia, were a threat to sovereignty; it supported confidence-building meetings to address those issues. ¶15. (U) Rights of Reply: Georgia responded to the Russian statement, saying that it agreed with the assessment that the events of August last year in Georgia were definitely an aggression, but that the Russian statement did not correspond to reality. It said that the report of the independent fact-finding commission, which had already looked into the matter, confirmed that the site of the conflict had endured long-term provocations by Russia. A new European security architecture was needed, as some countries were failing to abide by their earlier obligations and commitments. In response, Russia agreed that there had been an aggression and said that readers would be able to reach their own conclusions about the commission report, but they would not have the same opinion as Georgia. Wolff