64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE BEGINS GENERAL DEBATE:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000948 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CD CDG KN PARM PREL UNGA SUBJECT: 64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE BEGINS GENERAL DEBATE: OVER 100 SPEAKERS - DAY 1 1.(U) Summary: The UNGA first committee conducted its general debate ON disarmament and international security issues from October 5. This summary comprises days 1 of the general debate (October 5). ¶2. Sweden ON behalf of the European Union The EU welcomed "renewed momentum in global arms control and disarmament" and expressed support for strengthening the authority of the United Nations in non-compliance with international agreements. It welcomed, as a very positive development, the decision in May 2009 of the Conference ON Disarmament (CD) "finally, after 12 years of stalemate, to agree a program of work." The EU will work for a successful outcome to the 2010 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference. The EU is concerned about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD),their means of delivery, and the risk that non state actors, in particular terrorists, may acquire them. The EU believes the proliferation of nuclear weapons is the largest threat to common security and pointed out that 2009 has continued to present major proliferation challenges, including the DPRK's nuclear test and the discovery of Iran's covert uranium facility near Qom. The EU welcomes talks by Presidents Obama and Medvedev ON the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, START), and supports the Convention ON the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons (BTWC),the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC),the convention ON Cluster Munitions and the UN program of Action to prevent the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons (SA/LW). It promotes the Ottawa convention ON Anti-Personnel Landmines and supports the concept of an international arms trade treaty. ¶3. Indonesia ON behalf of the Nonaligned Movement The NAM stated that "multilateralism and multilaterally agreed solutions...provide the only sustainable method of addressing disarmament and international security issues" and called for renewed efforts to resolve the current impasse in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects. The NAM are deeply concerned by the lack of progress by Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) ON nuclear disarmament under the terms of the NPT. The NAM support the non-use or threat of use of force against the territorial integrity of any state. They believe the planned START negotiations are a positive signal, but the U.S. and Russia should achieve further deep cuts in their nuclear weapons. The NAM reaffirmed the inalienable right of states to engage in the research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination, and stressed the responsibility of developed nations to support the legitimate requirements of developing countries for nuclear energy. The NAM reaffirmed its support for the establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East and called ON Israel to accede to the NPT without delay. NAM members noted the adoption of a program of work for the CD and reiterated their call for the establishment of an ad hoc committee ON disarmament in the CD. The NAM called for an effective and verifiable Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and urged states to meet the deadlines of the CWC for destruction of chemical weapons. The NAM judged that "the prevention of illicit trade of SA/LW is imperative for creating security conditions conducive to development". ¶4. Burma ON behalf of ASEAN The ASEAN charter stipulates that South East Asia is "preserved as a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and free of all other weapons of mass destruction," and world wide nuclear disarmament is the highest priority of its members. ASEAN calls ON all states to show the political will and maximum flexibility prior to and during the 2010 NPT review conference and is encouraged by U.S. - Russian preliminary bilateral agreement to reduce their nuclear arsenals. ASEAN is encouraged that 181 countries have signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and advocates the early entry into force of the treaty. ASEAN urges states to sign the CWC and BTWC and meet the 2012 destruction deadline of the CWC. ¶5. Nigeria ON behalf of the Africa Group USUN NEW Y 00000948 002 OF 003 The African Group said that "nuclear weapons represent the greatest treat to humanity ON earth today," and called ON NWS to commit themselves to stopping the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling, transferring, threat of use or use of nuclear weapons and to their total elimination. It welcomed the adoption of a program of work for the CD and announced the entry into force ON 15 July, 2009 of the African Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone treaty, known as the Treaty of Pelindaba. The African Group is concerned about the "illicit transfer, manufacture and circulation of SA/LW." ¶6. Brazil ON behalf of New Agenda Coalition (NAC) The NAC said that "nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation are intrinsically linked and mutually reinforcing processes," and that the only guarantee against nuclear proliferation is the complete and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons. It called for the universal adherence to the NPT and for India, Israel and Pakistan to accede to the treaty as non-nuclear-weapon states and place their facilities under comprehensive safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It urged the DPRK to reestablish cooperation with the IAEA and rejoin six-party talks. It stated that the 2010 NPT review is critical and that the adoption of work program in the CD is a positive step. The NAC noted that the nuclear-weapon-free weapons zones now cover 116 countries. ¶7. Mexico Mexico stated that a "window of opportunity has opened" in disarmament and asked states to show political will to continue the momemtum. Mexico cited the adoption of a work program in the CD, the continuing START negotiations and President Obama's statements ON international security as examples of this opportunity. It called for a legally binding Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) and the early entry into force of the CTBT. It said that U.S. ratification of the CTBT will help secure ratification by other states, and that DPRK nuclear tests reinforces the need for this treaty. Mexico supports that right of all states to peaceful uses of nuclear energy but said that Iran needs to cooperate with the IAEA. Mexico said nuclear-weapon-free zones help international peace and security and supported for one in the Middle East. It supports the CWC and treaties ON cluster munitions, mines and SALW. ¶8. Venezuela Venezuela supported general and complete disarmament and stated that nuclear powers needed to take concrete actions in this area and contended that they are "skirting their international commitments." Venezuela said that the U.S. - Russia START negotiations are positive, but rejected any document that is not multilateral, contending that all states should be involved in nuclear disarmament negotiations. It supported the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones and called for Israel to give up its nuclear weapons and join the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon state. It opposed selective enforcement of treaties, investigations and sanctions of nuclear programs, and stated that Latin America and the Caribbean have the smallest quantity of weapons in the world. Venezuela criticized seven planned U.S. military bases in Colombia saying that they "affect the peace and security in the region". ¶9. Switzerland Switzerland said it is encouraged by the positive developments in disarmament, including the joint statement of Presidents Obama and Medvedev's, the improved atmosphere at the preparatory committee for the NPT review conference and the adoption of a work program for the CD. It stated, however, that "real action" is needed. Switzerland stressed the importance of work ON conventional Weapons, citing anti-personnel landmines, cluster munitions and the convention ON Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). ¶10. Kazakhstan USUN NEW Y 00000948 003 OF 003 Kazakhstan stated that the stagnation period in disarmament is over and was encouraged by U.S. and Russian pledges to work towards reduction of their nuclear arsenals. It called for the ratification of the CTBT, the need for a treaty dealing with SA/LW and for strengthening the NPT. Kazakhstan showed concern about the threats of non-state actors, such as terrorist groups, acquiring nuclear weapons. ¶11. Peru Peru said it was encouraged by the adoption of a program of work for CD after 12 years and U.S. and Russian negotiations on the START follow-on treaty. It called for ratification of the CTBT, and said it is concerned by SA/LW, land mines and the increase in military budgets in a time of financial crisis. It called for South America to be a "zone of peace" and advocated the gradual limitation of armaments and for transparency in military budgets. ¶12. Right of Reply by Iran Replying to the EU statement, Iran stated that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and that it had met IAEA requirements in announcing its facility in Qom. It pointed out that Israel has not acceded to the NPT. Rice