A/42/PV.83 General Assembly

7.  IDTIFICATION BY THE SErnETARY-GENERAL UNDER ARTICLE 12, PARAGRAPH 2f OF THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS: NJTE BY THE SEffiETARY-GENERAL (A!42/547) The PRES IDENT (in terpreta tion from Russ ian): The Gener a1 Assembly has before it a note by the Secretary-Genera1 issued as document A/42/547. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of that document? It was so deci ded. The PRES WENT (interpreta tion from Russian): We have concluded our consideration of Agenda i tern 7. AGENDA IT:El11 40 UNITED NATIONS mNFERENCE EDR THE PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL (D-{)PERATION IN THE PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY (a) REPORT OF THE CDNFERENCE (A/mNF.lOB/7) (b) DRAFT RESOLUTION (A/42/L.37) rrhe FREE ID ENT (in terpreta tion from Russian): I should like to remind representa tives that, in accordance wi th the dec is ion taken on Wednesday morn ing, 25 November, the list of speakers in the debate on this item will be closed today at 11 a.m. I therefore request representatives who wish to participate in the debate to PJt their names on the list as soon as possible. I call on the representative of Egypt, the President of the united N3tions Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, who will introduce the draft resollltion. Mr. SHAKER (Fqypt), President of the United Nations Conference for the Prorrotion of International Co-operation in the Peacp.ful Uses of Nuclear Energy (interpretati.on from Arabic)~ I have great pleasure in taking this opportunity to address the Assem.'"lly on the agenda item dealing wi t.l1 the Uni ted N3 tions Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, which was held from 23 March to 10 April 1987 and over which I had the honour of presiding. Ten years ago, in December 1977, this major international forum saw the emergence of the idea of convening a conference under the auspices of the United Nations for the promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for the economic and social development of countries. At the thirty-second session the General Assembly adopted, by consensus, resolution 32/50. In that resolution the Assembly expressed its conviction that the objectives of the full lltilization of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons could be promoted by the estahlishment of universally acceptable principles for international co-operation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The Assembly spelt out the following four principles that it invited all the international organizations concerned to respect: first, the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is of great importance for the economic and social development of many countries; secondly, all States have the right, in accordance with the principle of sovereign equality, to develop their programme for the peaceful use of nuclear technology for economic and social development, in conformity with their priorities, interests and needs; thirdly, all States, without discrimination, should have access to and should he free to aCQUire technology, eauipment and materials for the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and, fourthly, international co-operation in the field covered hy resolution 32/5U should be under agreed and appropriate international safeguards applied through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on a non-discriminatory basis in order to prevent (Mr. Shaker, President, united Natiol'ls Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy) After many consultations and much study, the General Assembly, in resolution 35/112 of 5 December 1980, decided to convene the Conference, pursuant to resolution 32/50, and a Preparatory Committee was established. Convening and preparing for the Conference was no easy task. Several years were needed, during which arduous and serious efforts were made over the seven sessions of the Preparatory Committee's work, agreement being reached on the agenda and procedural matters. A group of governmental experts also met for four sessions between sessions of the Preparatory Committee. The group tried to evaluate international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and suggested ways and means to promote that co-operation, on the hasis of a study of the documents prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other competent hodies in the United Nations system. The group also based itself on the reports of regional groups and the contributions made by Governments. It tried to summarize the final document that might emerge from the Conference. A major contribution to the preparatory work and the actual work of the Conference was undoUbtedly made by meetings of groups of regional experts in ~sia, the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, South-East ~sia, ~frica, Europe and Canada, thanks to their study of nuclear energy and its use for peaceful purposes in each region. The groups also studied the difficulties hampering the peaceful use of nuclear energy and submitted proposals to overcome them, indicating ways of strengthening international co-operation. The Confer.ence was an international forum hrinqing together lu6 countries, which participated in a frank eKchange of views on international co-operation in the peaceful USes of nuclear energy. (Mr. Shaker, President, United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy) I The Conference divided up into two main committees. The first studied age~da item 5, concerning principles universally acceptable for international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and appropriate ways and means for the promotion of such co-operation, as envisaged in General Assembly resolution 32/50, and in accordance with mutually acceptable considerations of non-proliferation. In accordance with the agreement reached in the preparatory work, the resolutions of the Conference on that agenda item had to be adopted by consensus. The second main Committee studied agenda items 6 and 7, dealing with the role of nuclear power for social and economic development and the role of other peaceful applications of nuclear energy, such as food and agricultur.e, health and medicine and industry, for social and economic development. Detailed discussions took place on agenda item 5. The Conference studied ways of strengthening international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the prime role to be played by the IAEA, under its Statute. It also studied the role of the specialized agencies and competent bodies of the united Nations system, as well as means of bilateral and multilateral regional co-operation. Some meetings dealt in depth with international co-operation and means of strengthening it within the context of the principles set out in resolution 32/50, taking into account non-proliferation measures to be agreed internationally. Thus each Member State had the opportunity to clarify its position and its concerns on all the matters under consideration. Although every participant recogni~ed that nuclear energy could indeed contribut~ to the prosperity and the economic and social development of all countries, despite the genuine efforts to reach agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and means of strengthening co-operation, the discussions within the Conference revealed that there still existed marked (Mr. Shaker, President, United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy) differences of opinion preventing a consensus, ranging over a whole host of complementary ideas relating to ways of strengthening international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in the light of non-proliferation cons iderat ions. Those who took part decided that the lively exchange of views in the Conference should not come to nothing. They expressed the hope that the efforts made would enhance mutual understanding. It was considered that the IAEA and the other competent bodies could benefit from that. Representatives have before them the report of the Conference (A/CONF.108/7) containing the various proposals on ways and means of strengthening international co-operation discussed by the Conference. The inability to reach full agreement on a complete set of principles and means for strengthening co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy should not be regarded as a setback) rather, it should be seen as an important step, for all the participants were aware of the difficulties faced by the Conference. Despite that, everyone was determined that the Conference be held, because its convening han already been delayed more than once. It shoUld also be rememhered that similar conferences have heen unable to attain their objectives at the first attempt. I am happy to say that the true accompli~hment of the Conference was that it studied 103 technical reports, d~a1ing with several aspects of nuclear energy and its USes. The reports pointerl to means of making nuclear ener.gy a part of planning economic and social development projects in order to ensure nuclear security, to (Mr. Shaker, President, united Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy) the benefit of all. The Conference considered that it was useful to plJblish the technical reports, within the limits of financial constraints. The draft resolution as a whole, which represents the consensus reached, contains a summary of the Conference's work. (Mr. Shaker, President, united Nations Conference foe the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Bnergy) The importance of nuclear energy for economic and social development, especially in the developing countries is recalled and note is taken with satisfaction of the very active role that has been and continues to be played by the International ~tomic Rnergy Agency in accordance with articles 11 and III of its statute. The operative part of the draft resolution deals with what took place at the Geneva Conference. We sought to use the same formulas for reconciling positions in order not to disrupt the balance of the text. The operative part also emphasizes the importance of the technical reports and the possibility of using them subsequently. Operative paragraph 3 indicates how this objective can be attained. In operative paragraph 6 the General Assembly reauests the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in the annual reports of the Agency, to continue to report on the progress made in the promotion of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for economic and social development, especially in the developing countries. Draft resolution A/42/L.37 in its present form represents the consensus reached in Geneva last April. That is why I suggest that this draft resolution he adopted by the General Assembly by consensus. In conclusion, I should like to express my profound gratitude to Ambassador Mehta, secretary-General of the Conference. Mr. KOVACIC (Czechoslovakia) (interpretation from Russian): This year will echo in the history of mankind as the year of the conclusion of the first agreement on disarmament, on the basis of which there will be complete elimination at once of two types of nuclear weapons. The agreement under preparation, the signinq of which is already coming closer, is something we see as a decisive step towards a non-nuclear world, a world free of weapons that threaten mankind with self-annihilation. We also believe that an important characteristic feature of this year is the broad discussion or possibilitip.~ for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. An important forum' for this was provided by the united Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of ~uclear Energy. The process of the preparation, convening and actual holding of the Conference demonstrated both the importance of these problems and the need for joint efforts by states to resolve them. Assessing the results of the Conference, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic believes that this was the first meeting in the history of the United Nations at which issues of nuclear energy and its impact on social and economic development throughout the world were considered on such a broad hasis. Despite the fact that the Conference was unable to achieve agreement regarding the views of all the participants, it was a forum in which there was an open exchange of opinions and which resulted in an improvement of mutual understanding. All of us present here had to go through that stage to come closer to a better use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The Conference clearly demonstrated the need to pool efforts to strengthen international co-operation in this important sphere, as well as its intrinsic link with the preservation of peace and the strengthening of international security. Pull implementation of the programme in the sphere of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy is possible only if there is a strengthening of trust and understanding hetween peoples. This concept is fully in keeping with the spirit of the joint proposal of the socialist countries concerning the estahlishment of a comprehensive system of international peace and security. From the time preparations for the Conference be9an Czechoslovak ia was already aware that, in the light of the multitude of factors involved and the variety of links between them, attainment of the objectives of the Conference, would be no easy task. We agreed with the view that only agreement by the entire international community would make possible implementation of the decisions of the Conference. We therefore welcomed the agreement reached at the first meeting of the Conference that any decisions affecting the principles of international co-operation and ways and means of ensuring this must be taken on the basis of consensus. We view such an approach as definite progress towards reoogni tion of the need for any agreement affecting such a sensitive area as that of the use of nuclear energy to be un iversal. We welcome the fact that broad support was expressed at the United Nations Conference for the Prorootion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful USes of Nuclear Energy for the existing machinery of international co-operation in th is sphere and, first and foremost, for the activities of the International Atomic Energy Pgency (IAEA). In the view of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic the IAEA provides a solid basis for the further development of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes by all states of the world, since in its work that aspect is appropriately linked to ensuring nuclear security and to the regime ()f non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, including the appropriate system of guarantees. In discussing the actillities of the IAEA at the present session of the General Assembly, we, like other States, note that the technical assistance offered by the Agency is continuing to expand and that this allO'tls all States, including the developing ones, to carry out their own nuclear programmes wi thout any kind of discr imination. (Mr. Kovacic, Czechoslovak ia) The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic attaches great importance to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, since for the majority of states of the world it is an irreplaceable and promising resource for their further development. Therefore, we shall continue consistently to support further improvements in the present system of international co-operation, to strengthen it and to enhance its effectiveness. The Czechoslovak delegation therefore supports draft resolution A/42/L.37. (Mr. Kovacic, Czechoslovakia) Mr.OKUN (United states of America): It is indeed a pleasure to participate in the General Assembly's review of the final report of the United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. For la years the Assemhly has anticipated the outcome of this Conference. It was convened for the purpose of addressing issues related to the peaceful uses of the atom, issues that are of importance to many States. Since the General Assembly's decision in 1977 to convene the Conference, nuclear technologies have developed in ways which invariably affected the overall aims and objectives of the Conference, as has co-operation among States in their development and application. In the past decade international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy has increased substantially within the framework of existing mechanisms. As the central institution for this purpose, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has effectively promoted co-operation among States in the use of nuclear energy for power production, medicine, agriculture, hydrology and industry. Since 1977, resources made availahle to the Agency's technical assistance and co-operation programme have increased from $11 million to almost $40 million in 1986. In addition, millions of dollars of assistance in-kind have been channelled to countries through the IAEA in the form of eauipment, fellowships and expert services. The IAEA has, without a doubt, been instrumental in promoting international nuclear co-operation on a consistent and reliable basis o~er the 3U years since its establishment. This has been particUlarly true in the past decade. Co-operation in peaceful nuclear technologies has also increased through bilateral arrangements among States. Access to materials, training and technology has improved considerably within the past la years, therehy enabling countries to secure, on an ever-increasing basis, the benefits of the atom for social and el ~nomic development within a framework of protection against misuse of these t chnolog ies. Key to the growth of international co-operation in peaceful nuclear t chnologies has been the strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, ~ rich provides the necessary underpinning for such exchanges among States. In the r; lst decade 35 States have become parties to the nuclear Non-Proliferation ~ :eaty (NPT) which, with 136 members, has become the most widely adhered-to arms c )ntrol treaty in history. The NPT and other instruments which contain bind ing ~n-proliferation commitments, such as the Treaty of Tlatelolco, have served as mportant confidence-huilding mechamisms and have greatly facilitated co-operation mong States. In addition, the IAEA has expanded its application of safeguards on luclear materials to accommodate growth in peacefUl nuclear development and the lesire of many States to provide assuranceS of peaceful use, which is essential to :ontinued international co-operation. Against this backdrop, the Conference for the Promotion of International ~o-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy was convened to review recent developments and to assess the prospects and problems for co-operation in the years to come. A central part of this process was the Conference's discussion of "principles" and "ways and means" for enhancing co-operation in peaceful nuclear technologies. The discussion of "pr inciples" and "ways and means" provided for a useful exchange of views and highlighted to an even greater extent the need to keep channels of communication open as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the fundamental differences among States on these issues. Moreover, this exchange benefited greatly from the willingness of participants to consider openly the difficult issues before them. (Mr. Okun, United States) We believe that one of the most noteworthy and most useful outcomes of the Conference was the vast collection of valuable scientific and technical information which emerged from discussions in Committee II regarding a full range of issues related to the use of nuclear energy for economic and social development. We were impressed by the high calibre of the presentations - which numbered over luo - and the interest that many States demonstrated in the serious technical work of the Committee. We believe this exchange of information will prove valuable to many States in the practical application of peaceful nuclear technologies. As ! have already suggested, one of the most significant aspects of the Conference was that it recognized, and thereby enhanced, the central role of the !AEA in promoting and facilitating the expanded use of the peaceful atom. The United States of America, for its part, is committed to working through the IAEA and other institutions to improve and, where possible, expand co-operation in the peacefUl uses of nuclear energy. This, in turn, will promote the economic and social development of many countries, as well as the peace and security which benefit us all. Mr. TIMERBAEV (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from Russian): The Soviet delegation would like to associate itself with those positive assessments which have been given by the previous speakers on the results of the united Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, which took place in Geneva this spring. We should like to express our gratitUde to the President of the Conference, Ambassador Mohamed Shaker, for his great contribution to the organization and holding of the Conference, and for the substantive report on the results of that Conference he made here today. (Mr. Okun, united States) This united Nations Conference and its final document adopted are douhtless an nportant milestone towards the further development of international co-operation n the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for the social and economic development eeds of states. The Conference has made a concrete contribution to defining the role of nuclear energy and to deepening and expanding international co-operation in the sphere of its peaceful use. The substantive dialogue which took place among the participants in that forum, which encompassed the entire range of the uses of atomic energy in such fields as agriculture, health, hydrology, industry and scientific and technical research for economic and social development, clearly demonstrated the enormous constructive potential of nuclear energy when it is used to serve people. A very positive assessment should he given to the efforts made by the participants in the Conference to achieve agreement on generally accepted principles of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the appropriate ways and means of promoting such co-operation. The Soviet Union is a vigorous advocate of expansion and intensification of international co-operation in the field of the peaceful use of the atom and believes that atomic energy must become the property of all mankind and serve solely the interests of peace and creative work. Our country is making a significant contribution to the development of international co-operation in the peaceful use of atomic energy, both on a hilateral and a multilateral basis. The Soviet Union has broad business ties in. this sphere with states on the various continents. We deliver equipment for atomic power stations and nuclear materials to a large group of countries. we provide services for the enriching of uranium. We co-operate in carrying out research, design and construction work, and the training of specialists and we send soviet experts to render technical assistance. One of the promising areas for such co-operation is, in particular, that of the merging of all efforts by States to create a more economical and more reliable new-generation reactor and the joint construction by a number of countries of an international thermo nuclear reactor. A substantive contribution is made by the Soviet Union to the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the international centre for co-ordination of and agreement on actions by States in the sphere of the peaceful use of atomic energy. The work of the Agency, the thirtieth anniversary of which was marked this year, has our unswerving support in the political and business spheres. We are convinced that the Agency will continue to remain a reliable instrument for the development of complex co-operation in the area of the use of atomic energy for positive purposes. A particular role is played by the lAEA with regard to issues of ensuring the security of nuclear energy. In recent times alone, the Agency has prepared such major documents as the convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident: and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. A aualitatively new step in the development of multilateral co-operation in the sphere of security of nuclear energy was, in our view, begun at the special session of the General Conference of the Agency; where the soviet union made extensive proposals on a programme for the establishment of an international regime for the safe development of nuclear energy. One of the necessary and substantive conditions for the peaceful development of nuclear energy and the expansion of international co-operation in that sphere is a further strengthening of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the international non-proliferation regime formed on its basis. During the 17-year-long history of the Treaty, not a single new nuclear-weapon State has emerged in the world. The IAEA control system during that period has not d iscol7ered any violations, which would have attested to a rechannelling of nuclear materials or facilities covered by the guarantees for the production of nuclear weapons, nuclear explosive devices or other military purposes. (Mr. Timerbaev, USSR) regime of nuclear weapons was also made at the united Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, which sUbstantively and with great concern considered this important international problem. At the same time we cannot fail to notice the fact that the situation in the area of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons continues to be a cause of concern. There are several so-called semi-nuclear States, which are still avoiding adherence to the non-proliferation Treaty. The international community must in future, too, continue uigourously to ensure that there is no erosion of the international regime of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and try to achieve the universalization of that regime. The interactions of states for the peaceful use of nuclear energy will he entering a auantitatively new stage if real progress is achieved in the cause of nuclear disarmament and the ensuring of comprehensive security. The idea proposed by the socialist countries of a comprehensive system of international peace and security, an integral part of which is the programme on the total elimination of nuclear weapons by the end of the present century, is a concrete demonstration of our deep involvement in the creation of a non-violent and non-nuclear world in which the energy of the atom would be used solely for constructive purposes. We note here today with satisfaction that the cause of nuclear disarmament is entering a phase of practical implementation as a result of the recently-held meeting at Geneva between the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr;.",. $hevarnadze of the Soviet Union, and the Secretary of state of the United States, Mr. Schulz, when the last obstacles were removed to the conclusion of an agreement between the Soviet Union and the united states on the total elimination of Soviet and united States medium- and short-range missiles, which will be signed during the course of the official visit to the United States of Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary (Mr. Timerbaev, USSR) The implementation of the agreement on medium-range and shorter-range missiles will lead to the destruction of almost 2,000 nuclear warheads. It can and must become the starting-point for major new steps towards the ultimate elimination of the nuclear threat. In the course of the forthcoming meeting of the leaoers of the two collo tr ies in Wash ington it is also planned to lay the bas is for a fu ture agreement on a 50 per cent reduction of strategic offensive weafXlns by the Soviet Union and the United Sta tes in conditions of strict compl iance wi th the treaty on anti-ballis tic missiles. All th is ser ves as concrete reaffh ma tion of our determination to achieve through practical steps a transforllBtion of the principle of the use of the atom solely for peaceful purp::>ses into a universal rule for in terna tional r ela tions. On the basis of the views just stated, the delegation of the Soviet Union supports the adoption of the draft resolution in document A/42/L.37.