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

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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