A/46/PV.65 General Assembly

47.  REDUCTION OF MILITARY BUDGETSI REPORT OF THE I'IRST COMMITTEE (A/46/661) COMPLIANCE WITH ARMS LIMITATION AND DIS ARMAMENT AGREEMENTS I REPORT OF THE FIRST COMfITTEE (A/46/662) EDUCATION AND INFORMATION FOR DISARMAMENTI REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/663) IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 45146 CONCERNING THE SIGNATURE AND RATIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL I OF THE TREATY FOR THE PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (TREATY OF TLATELOLCO): REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/664) AMENDMENT OF THE TREATY BANNING NUCLEAR WEAPON TESTS IN THE ATMOSPHERE, IN OUTER SPACE AND UNDER WATBRr REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/665) CESSATION OF ALL NUCLEAR-TEST EXPLOSIONSJ URGENT NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY, REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/666) ESTABLISHMENT OF A NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE ZONE IN THE REGION OF THE MIDDLE EAST: REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (~1461667) ESTABLISHMENT OF A NUCLEAR-WEAF'ON-FREE ZONE IN SOUTH ASIA: REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/666) CONCLUSION OF EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS TO ASSURE NON-NUCLEAR-WEAPON STATES AGAINST TIIE USE OR THREAT OF USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS: REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (11461669) PREVENTION OF AN ARMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE: REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/670) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE DENUCLEARIZATION OF AFRICA: REPORT OF THE FIRST COMXITTEE (A/46/671) CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL (BIOLOGICAL) WEAPONS: REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/672) GENERAI, AND COMPLETE DISARMAMElNTg REPORT OF THE FIRST CO~ITTEE (~1461673) REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONCLUDING DOCU?4EN--OF THE TWELFTH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/674) REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND DECISIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT ITS TENTH SPECIAL SESSION: (a) REPORT OF THII FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/675) (b) -NDMIINT (A/46/L.36) ISRAELI NUCLEAR ARklAMENT: REPORT OF THE FIRST cot4rw~E~ (~1461676) CONVENTION ON PROHIBITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF CFRTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS WHICH MAY BE DEEMED TO BE EXCESSIVELY INJURIOUS OR TO HAVE INDISCRIMINATE EFFGCTSr REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/677) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION OF THE INDIAN OCEAN AS A ZONE OF PEACE: REPORT OF THE FIRST cowmmm (~1461676) QUESTION OF ANTARCTICA: REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/679) STRENGTHENING OF SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION: REPORT OF THE FIRST COkMITTEE (A/46/680) REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE STRENGTHENING OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY8 REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/46/681) The Pm (interpretation from Arabic): I call on the Rapporteur of the First Committee, Mr. Pablo Emilio Sader of Uruguay to introduce the reports of the First Committee in one intervention. Mr. SADU (Uruguay), Rapporteur of the First Committee (interpretation from Spanish): It is a particular pleasure and honour for me to address the plenary meeting of the General Assembly and to inform the Assembly that the First Committee successfully concluded its work in an atmosphere free of confrontation, :eflecting the changes that have taken place on the international scene since the end of the cold var. The approach taken by delegations was constructive and cooperative, making it possible for a spirit of compromise to prevail throughout the meetings of the First Committee at the forty-sixth session. The members of the Committee focused mainly on issues which were ripe for consideration at the multilateral level and which yielded fruitful results. A few l tatiaticr nay illuatrato tha spirit of cooparstion and conc*aaioa. This year, 411 draft reaolutiona and deciaiona were submitted, 3 of which ware later withdrawn, in comparison with tha 54 that were admitted during the forty-fifth l eaaion. Thia conatitutea a notablo decrease from the forty-second l aaaion. when 79 draft8 wore submitted. There war alao a major chanqo in the voting pattern8 the voting patterns and a growing willingneaa to accept differing positions, not pressing certain isauaa to a vote, and making avary effort to achieve a consensus. Thua the 22 draft8 adopted without a *rote represent a percentage increaaa, from 50 per cant laat year to 60 per cent at this session. In connection with dimarmament-related iaeuea, thin wan a year in which new and important iaauea were considered that seem to be destined for future development. Thia and other elements contributed to making this session qualitatively different from past sessions. The first fact we can note in the general debate of the First Committee is that a apirit of widespread satisfaction warn observed at the unprecedented progress achieved by the two major nuclear Powers in reducing their nuclear arsenals. ?urthermore, the subject of transparency in armaments, which was deLlt with under the agenda item “International Arms Transfers”, became the issue that warn negotiated and debated most intensively during th%s session. The outcome of theme long negotiations warn a draft reaolution calling, inter slip, for the establishment of a universal and non-discriminatory register of conventional weapona, including data on international arms transfers. information on stocks of military equipment, on acquisition of military equipment and relevant policies. Taking into account the fnnovative and sensitive nature of this item aud tha diverging views cn it, thla draft resolution may be considered to be one of the moat significant of the forty-sixth session of the Cenoral Ap~mbly. Uadrr the ayn0 item, “laternational arm5 transfora”, it ia significant also that for the first lima a draft was introduced in which the Secretary-General was requested, m, to make available information provided by Uwnber States on illicit arma transfers, and States were called upon ‘co eradicate this scourge. First Connnittf) As in previous years, nuclear disarmament issues had a prominent place on the First Committee’s agenda. One third of all the resolutions on disarmament deal with such nuclear-related issues as non-proliferation, a nuclear-test ban, nuclear-weapon-free zones, security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon States, on nuclear-arms freeze and a ban on the production of fissionable material for nuclear weapons. Taking into account the circumstances surrounding the Gulf War and its aftermath, many delegations expressed concern about nuclear proliferation and emghasized the need for universal accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, an instrument that has become even more relevant since the accession to the Treaty, or the declaration of intent to accede to it, by China, France, South Africa, Lithuania, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Many delegations also called for strengthening the safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It is appropriate to mention that this year, for the first time, the draft resolution on implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearitation of Africa vas adopted without a vote. Another agenda item that was the foclrs of special attention dealt with nuclear tests. After 20 years of submitting two separate draft resolutions on this item, this year, for the first time, i! was possible to achieve a single text on the cessation of all nuclear tests. Likewise, particularly noticeable this year was the increased emphasis on conventional and regional disarmament, which vas reflected in the adoption of a number of draft resolutions on these items. The favourable political atmosphere for the speedy conclusion of a convention on the complete prohibition of chrmical WP?.ponS was reflected in a draft resolution adopted vithout a vote, in which the Conference on Disarmament is urged to resolvr outstanding issues 80 as to achieve A final agreement at itg 1992 session. JudgincJ from a process begun a few years ago, it can be said that. t.hr* First Committee made even further progress towards a more practical decision-making procedure, geared towards achieving practical results in speciEic matters. With the progressive consolidation of the new internatiorl,~l situation and the prevailing atmosphere of cooperation, it may be said Chat there has been an automatic rationaliznti.Jn of the Conunittee’s work. As was pointed out by the Chairman of the Conunittee in his concluding statement, pertinent suggestions have been submitted as to the procedure to be follovccl for the consideration of disarmament and international security issues in order to rationalize the Committee’s work even further (A/C,l/4g/PV.45, P,--&). In this regard, the Chairman announced that consultations would bc held in New York and in Geneva with a view to making progress in this area ,\I the forty-seventh Session of the General Assembly. The last - and certainly not the leas*. important - item that I should like to highlight with regard to the disarmament agenda is the widespread recognition of the broadened concept of Security, v’ ich emerged during the qeneral debate and in the treatment of the item on the relationship between disarmament and development. This concept is reflected in the words of the Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Mr. Yasushi Akashi. in th(’ statement he made before the First Committee: “Arms control and disarmament now constitute essential parts of the complc-i process of consolidating peace, together with peace-keeping, diplomatic mediation, judicial settlements and other efforts for enhancing intornatioaal cooporation. What ir needed I8 a ruktainod uell-coordinated aad non-compartmeotali8ed l pproech to new global issues. “The international coanunity has to erpoure a multidimensional approach to peace and recurity in which thm military aspect will not dominate but will be considered in relation to other priorities such as developanent. welfare, environ8ment and the protection of human rights.” (b/c.1I46/w.4. DD. 3 -1 In connection with agenda items 67 and 68, the encouraging developmeots that have taken place over the past years have clearly prompted the international conmwnity to seek new, conrtructive and imaginative ways of dealing with the subject of international security in all the aspects to which I referred a few moments ago. In many statements made during the general debate on international security, cmpharis was placed on new opportunities and challenges confronting the United Nations in thin changing stage of history - a stage characterized by a decrease in the global tension that prevailed in past decades and by the emergence or re-emergence of localized conflicts of different types, be they national, ethnic or religious. A number of ideas put forward in the general debate involved practical measures to enable the Organization to play its proper role as a key in the new collective security system that seems to be emerging, for example, in such areas as the maintenance of international peace, the prevention of conflicts, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the promotion of economic and social development, and the promotion and protection of human rights. Many delegations referred to the need for strict observance of the principles of international law, in particular, thoat principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, in the designing of a new system of world ‘&-* security. xoroovor, particular importanco war attached to r*ionsl recurity forum in aiccordanco with Chapter VIII of the Charter, am they are part of, and complement, the broader overall concept. In connection rlth the quemtion of Antarctica - ageoda itmtn 66 - it can clearly be I)een onto again from the thrust of the discussion this year th&\t there is a shared conviction that, in the interesta of the ez’ire humaD rave, Antarctica should continue to be used solely for peaceful purposes, and sho,ld not be the arena or object of international discord. Special l mpharis was placed on the need to preserve and protect the fragile Antarctic environment and its ecoryrtems. In this reqard, it wan noted that the Wadrid Protocol concluded last October constitutes a aiqnificant step in this direction. None the less, it should be pointed out that the debate in the Conunittse and the subsequent roll-call vote on the draft resolutions reflected persiatinq differences of opinion, for example on the functioning of the Antarctic Treaty system, human activities in Antfxctica and the participation of South Africa in consultative meetings, Consequently, this year once again, it uas not possible to reach a consensus on this item. In its consideration of the 22 agenda items allocated to it, the First Committee followed its usual procedure, which consists in orqanizing its work in three broad phases corresponding to groups of items, namely, disarmament questions (items 47 to 65), the question of Antarctica (item 66) and questions relating to international security (items 67 and 68). At this plenary meetinq of the General Assembly, it is my honour to introduce the First Committee’s reports on these agenda items, contained in documents A/46/661 to 681. Lastly, I should like to express my appreciation 1-o all those who contributed to the success of the work of the First Connitter. First of all. special ttanl.8 90 to to the Chairman of the Comnittoe, Nr. Robert Mroriewlcz for him l xcellont loadmrrhip, political skill and knowlodge of disarmament oncl security itemr, which were decirive ampectr of him atecling leadorahip. I rhould alro lika to expreao my appreciation to the Vice-Chairmen, or. Sedfrey Ordones sad Mr. hhmet Rarif Alpman. who discharged their responsibilities with l sceptional skill. Of course, I should like to erpresr my thank8 to tho Under-Secretary-Geoetsl for Disarmament Affairm, Mr. Yamurhi Akaahi, and to the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Security Couocil Affairs, Mr. Vasiliy Safronchuk. for their very importsnt contributions to our work. I should o~~pecislly like to thank the Socretsry of the Committee, or. Sohrab Khetadi, upon whose great experience the Conmaittee was able to rely in all aspect0 of its work, rubstsntive or procedural. Finally, Mr. President, I expresa my gratitude to all the members of your stiff, most erpecially in this contort to Mr. Sattsr, Ms. Mackby, Ms. Cooper and Ms. Amaritnant. s (interpretatian from Arabic): If ttere is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the First Committee that are before the Assembly today. It was so M . Statements will The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Arabic): therefore be 1imitQd to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the various recommendations of the First Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. May I remind members that under paragraph 7 of decision 341401 the General Assembly agreed that “When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, that is, either in the Committee or in plenary meeting unless that delegation’s vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee.” (decision 341401, oara, 7) May I remind delegations that, also in accordance with decision 341431, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. tiPoro we be9in to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the rirst Cornnittoe, I should like to advise reprosentativer that, unless they have already notified the Secretariat otherwise, we are going to proceed with the voting in the sum manner as was done in the lirrt cormi two. This means that where recorded or separate or roll-call votes were taken, we shall do the same. I would also hope that we can proceed to adopt without a vote those recornmeadations that were adopted without a vote in the First Cofmsittee. Before we proceed to the consideration of the reports of the First Conunittee, I should like to inform Members that, despite the ?ifth Comnittee's efforts to consider the relevant prograsane-budget implications of four of the First Comnittee's reconrnendations, it has not been able, due to its heavy workload, to conclude its review. These draft resolutions are as followsr under agenda item 56, Xmplementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearisation of Africa, the draft resolution entitled "Implementation of the Declaration", which appears as draft resolution A in the report (A/46/671) of the First Comnittee on this item: under agenda item 60, General and complete disarmament, the draft resolution entitled "Transparency in armaments", which appears as draft resolution G in the report (A/46/673) of the Conrnittee on this item: under agenda item 61, Review and implementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly, the draft resolution entitled "Vn~ted Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific and United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean", which appears as draft resolution C in the report (A/46/674) of the Committee on thir item1 and, lastly, under agenda item 65, Implementation of the Declaration of the Indiaa Ocean aI) a Zone of Peace, tha draft resolution that is the only reconmnendatioa of the First Committee contained in it8 report (A/46/676) on this item. Consequently, action on those four draft rerolutions will be postponed until Monday, 9 Decamber 1991, in the morning. Therefore, thie morning the Assembly wLl1 take action on the reconwnendations contained in the reports of th3 ?irst Connittee on agenda item8 47 to 64 and 66 to 68. We shall firrt consider the report (A/46/661) of the ?irst Conunittee OD agenda item 47, entitled "Reduction of military budgets". The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft rerolution recommended by the ?itst Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. The First Committee adopted this draft resolution, entitled "Transparency of military expenditures" without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the rame7 was adooted (resolution 46125). Ths PRD (interpretation from Arabic)8 We have thus concluded our consideration of agenda item 47. We shall now consider the report (A/46/662) of the First Coxunittee on agenda item 48, entitled "Compliance with arms limitation and disarmament agreements”. The Assembly will take a decision on the draft rehrlution recomnded by the First Committee in parag:nph 1 of its report. The First Committee adopted this draft re8olution. entitled "Compliance with arma limitation and disarmament agreements", without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? utfoo was adoPta (46116). Thr (Intosprstation from Arabic)1 We have thug concluded our conmidetatloa of agenda item 46. We now turn to the report (A/46/663) of the ?irmt Conmnittee on agenda item 49, ontitled “Education and information for disarmament”. The Ammembly will take a decirion on the draft rorolution reconunended by the lirrt Comittee in paragraph 7 of it8 report. The Conunittee adopted the draft rerolut.~on, entitled "Education and information for dfasroament" without a vote. May I take it that the Arsembly wisher to do likewire? Wadoptrd (46127). 3L& P~6&LREHZ (interpretation from Arabic): We have thus concluded our conridoratioa of agenda item 49. Uo turn now to the report (A/46/664) of the First Comnnittes on agenda item 50, entitled “ImpleffbOUtatiOO of General Assembly resolution 4514.0 concerning the aignature and ratification of Additional protocol I of the Treaty for the Prohibition Of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatslolco)". The Pfrrt COmnittOe has not 8Ubmitted any recommendations on the item. That conclude8 our consideration of agenda item 50. wv (interpretation from Irrabic): We turn now to the report of the ?irst Coxxnittee (A/46/665) on agenda item 52, entitled “Amendment of the Treaty Bwrainq Nuclear Weapon Teat8 in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water”. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft r88OlUtiOn recommended by the ?irst Comnittee in paragraph 7 of its report. A recorded vote has been requested. Ins Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Braxil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica. CGte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Bcuador. Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Xuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamabiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Narn, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Faainst: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Unitecl States of America -1 Argentina, Aurtralis, Aurtria, Bel9ium, Bulgaria, Canada, Crochorlovakia, Denmark, tstonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iroland, Iarsel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, LiochtoD~tein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Irlaadr, Motherlanda, Now Zosland, Norway, Poland. POrtUCpl, Republic of Korea, Romanls, Samoa, Spain, Swedon, Turkey @raLL res&&ioil was &($-cl bv 110 VQW to 2. with 35 al?RlPJltionR (rerolution 46/28).* Mr. (interpretation from French)! My delegation did not participate in the vote because it is not a party to the Moscow Treaty of 1963. Uo want thir to be reflected in the record because it was a considered action 0~ our part. The (interpretation from Arabic18 We have concluded our conriderstion of agenda item 52. The next report of the First Coeunittee (A/46/6661 is on agenda item 51 entitled “Cenaation of all nuclear-test explosions” and agenda item 53 entitled “Urgent need for a comprebansive nuclear-test-ban treaty”. The Assembly will now take , decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Iirst Conmnittee in paragrpah 7 of its report. A recorded vote has been requested. - l Subsequently the delegations of Guatemala, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Myanmar and Saint Kitts and Nevis advised the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour. Infavorrr, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and B.lrbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Baagladeah, Barbados, Belarua, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Braril, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Fsco, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cete d*Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, R9ypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Rthiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia. Morocco, k$osa&ique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Chnan, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanaania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe w: Prance, United States of America : China, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland The draft resolution wa3 adopted bv 147 to 2, with 4 abstentions (resolution 46/29).*