Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK991
2009-11-04 13:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:
64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE: OTHER
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000991
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CD CDG KN PARM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: 64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE: OTHER
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000991
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CD CDG KN PARM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: 64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE: OTHER
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
1.(U) Summary: The First Committee (Disarmament and
International Security) conducted its thematic debate on
non-nuclear weapons of mass destruction on October 16. Most
nations called for the adoption of the Biological and Toxin
Weapons Convention (BTWC),and called on states to meet the
2012 deadline of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) for
destruction of chemical weapons stocks.
2. Sweden on Behalf of EU
The EU called the proliferation of WMDs and their means of
delivery a threat to international peace and security. It
expressed hope in the universality of the BTWC, CWC and the
1925 Geneva Protocol. It encouraged states to meet the
deadlines of the CWC to eliminate an entire class of weapons.
Sweden said the EU is concerned about the proliferation of
missiles and Iran and the DPRK's recent missile tests.
3. Canada
Canada called for an "action-based plan" to be developed at
the 2011 BTWC review conference. It stated that the plan
needs to incorporate sustainability, and to coordinate
assistance. It called for work to identify national and
regional needs and improvements in the BTWC.
4. Australia
Australia said it is working towards CWC and BTWC compliance,
calling the CWC a cornerstone of the multilateral
non-proliferation and disarmament architecture. It cited the
work of the Australia Group in helping to fight proliferation
of dual-use chemical and biological materials, equipment and
technology.
5. Norway
Norway called the CWC and BTWC essential instruments for
achieving the goal of a world free of weapons of mass
destruction. It was pleased by the implementation of the
work program from the 2006 BTWC review conference. It called
on all states to meet the destruction deadlines of the CWC.
6. Uruguay on behalf of MERCOSUR
MERCOSUR called for the universalization of the BTWC and CWC
and noted that all of the countries in MERCOSUR are free of
these types of weapons.
7. Switzerland
Switzerland was encouraged by the progress towards the
universalization of the CWC, citing ratification by Iraq, the
Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. It called on all states
to meet the 2012 destruction deadline and ratify the BTWC.
8. Indonesia on Behalf of the NAM
The NAM called for an effective and verifiable BTWC, to be
implemented in comprehensive manner. They underscored the
belief that there should be a complete non-use of
bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins as weapons and
called on all states to ratify the CWC. The NAM agreed that
non-state actors should not obtain access to WMDs and said
the forum for dealing with this is the General Assembly, not
the Security Council.
9. Turkey
Turkey called for wider adherence to the CWC and the BTWC and
establishment of a WMD-free zone in the Middle East. Turkey
also announced that Turkish national, Ahmet Uzumcu, had
recently been elected Director General of the Organization
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
10. Cuba
USUN NEW Y 00000991 002 OF 002
Cuba called for prohibition of all WMDs and urged all states
to abide by the destruction deadlines of the CWC. It called
for the use of biological and toxin agents to be eliminated
and that disarmament must be both "vertical and horizontal."
11. Venezuela
Venezuela stated that it is a pacifist country that is free
of WMDs. It called for the universalization of the CWC and
stated that the Security Council is not the best place to
deal with WMDs.
12. Russia
Russia stated that the CWC is the most effective multilateral
treaty. It said Russia was working as hard to meet its
obligations for destruction of chemical weapons but it must
bear the cost itself. It called for countries to share
information about biological weapons as a confidence measure.
It stated that acquisition of WMD by non-state actors is the
biggest threat.
13. Iran
Iran stated that no country has suffered more than Iran from
chemical weapons. It called for all possessor states to
destroy their stockpiles within the deadlines provided by the
CWC. It stated that in the Middle East one state (Israel)
has not put its facilities under any type of international
monitoring.
14. Hungary
Hungary presented the yearly draft resolution on "Convention
on the Prohibition of development, production and stockpiling
of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on
their destruction."
15. Poland
Poland presented the yearly draft resolution on
"implementation of the convention on the prohibition of the
development, production, stockpiling and the use of chemical
weapons and on their destruction."
16. Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea noted the progress has been made on the CWC
and BTWC and called on all states that have not yet ratified
these conventions to do so as soon as possible. It called on
states to meet the destruction deadlines of the CWC.
Rice
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CD CDG KN PARM PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: 64TH UNGA/FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DEBATE: OTHER
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
1.(U) Summary: The First Committee (Disarmament and
International Security) conducted its thematic debate on
non-nuclear weapons of mass destruction on October 16. Most
nations called for the adoption of the Biological and Toxin
Weapons Convention (BTWC),and called on states to meet the
2012 deadline of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) for
destruction of chemical weapons stocks.
2. Sweden on Behalf of EU
The EU called the proliferation of WMDs and their means of
delivery a threat to international peace and security. It
expressed hope in the universality of the BTWC, CWC and the
1925 Geneva Protocol. It encouraged states to meet the
deadlines of the CWC to eliminate an entire class of weapons.
Sweden said the EU is concerned about the proliferation of
missiles and Iran and the DPRK's recent missile tests.
3. Canada
Canada called for an "action-based plan" to be developed at
the 2011 BTWC review conference. It stated that the plan
needs to incorporate sustainability, and to coordinate
assistance. It called for work to identify national and
regional needs and improvements in the BTWC.
4. Australia
Australia said it is working towards CWC and BTWC compliance,
calling the CWC a cornerstone of the multilateral
non-proliferation and disarmament architecture. It cited the
work of the Australia Group in helping to fight proliferation
of dual-use chemical and biological materials, equipment and
technology.
5. Norway
Norway called the CWC and BTWC essential instruments for
achieving the goal of a world free of weapons of mass
destruction. It was pleased by the implementation of the
work program from the 2006 BTWC review conference. It called
on all states to meet the destruction deadlines of the CWC.
6. Uruguay on behalf of MERCOSUR
MERCOSUR called for the universalization of the BTWC and CWC
and noted that all of the countries in MERCOSUR are free of
these types of weapons.
7. Switzerland
Switzerland was encouraged by the progress towards the
universalization of the CWC, citing ratification by Iraq, the
Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. It called on all states
to meet the 2012 destruction deadline and ratify the BTWC.
8. Indonesia on Behalf of the NAM
The NAM called for an effective and verifiable BTWC, to be
implemented in comprehensive manner. They underscored the
belief that there should be a complete non-use of
bacteriological (biological) agents and toxins as weapons and
called on all states to ratify the CWC. The NAM agreed that
non-state actors should not obtain access to WMDs and said
the forum for dealing with this is the General Assembly, not
the Security Council.
9. Turkey
Turkey called for wider adherence to the CWC and the BTWC and
establishment of a WMD-free zone in the Middle East. Turkey
also announced that Turkish national, Ahmet Uzumcu, had
recently been elected Director General of the Organization
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
10. Cuba
USUN NEW Y 00000991 002 OF 002
Cuba called for prohibition of all WMDs and urged all states
to abide by the destruction deadlines of the CWC. It called
for the use of biological and toxin agents to be eliminated
and that disarmament must be both "vertical and horizontal."
11. Venezuela
Venezuela stated that it is a pacifist country that is free
of WMDs. It called for the universalization of the CWC and
stated that the Security Council is not the best place to
deal with WMDs.
12. Russia
Russia stated that the CWC is the most effective multilateral
treaty. It said Russia was working as hard to meet its
obligations for destruction of chemical weapons but it must
bear the cost itself. It called for countries to share
information about biological weapons as a confidence measure.
It stated that acquisition of WMD by non-state actors is the
biggest threat.
13. Iran
Iran stated that no country has suffered more than Iran from
chemical weapons. It called for all possessor states to
destroy their stockpiles within the deadlines provided by the
CWC. It stated that in the Middle East one state (Israel)
has not put its facilities under any type of international
monitoring.
14. Hungary
Hungary presented the yearly draft resolution on "Convention
on the Prohibition of development, production and stockpiling
of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on
their destruction."
15. Poland
Poland presented the yearly draft resolution on
"implementation of the convention on the prohibition of the
development, production, stockpiling and the use of chemical
weapons and on their destruction."
16. Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea noted the progress has been made on the CWC
and BTWC and called on all states that have not yet ratified
these conventions to do so as soon as possible. It called on
states to meet the destruction deadlines of the CWC.
Rice