A/68/PV.60 General Assembly

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 — Session 68, Meeting 60 — New York — UN Document ↗ — OCR ✓ — ⓘ 118 unattributed speechs — ⚠ 27 duplicate speechs
▶ This meeting at a glance
130
Speeches
7
Countries
48
Resolutions
Resolutions: 31/37, 31/125, 32/95, 31/127, 32/98, 32/99, 32/100, 32/127, 32/128, 39/192, 40/230, 37//6/, 40/233, 36/170, 48/140, 56/169, 56/230, 56/170, 47/147, 32/132, 31/37, 32/132, 31/125, 32/95, 31/127, 32/97, 31/37, 32/132, A/RES/68/24, A/RES/68/28, A/RES/68/29, A/RES/68/30, A/RES/68/31, A/RES/68/32, A/RES/68/35, A/RES/68/38, A/RES/68/39, A/RES/68/40, A/RES/68/42, A/RES/68/43, A/RES/68/44, A/RES/68/46, A/RES/68/47, A/RES/68/51, A/RES/68/56, A/RES/68/58, A/RES/68/65, A/RES/68/68
Topics
UN resolutions and decisions Nuclear weapons proliferation UN procedural rules Israeli–Palestinian conflict African Union peace and security Security Council deliberations

The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m.
Vote: A/RES/68/24 Recorded Vote
✓ 130   ✗ 4   45 abs.
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✓ Yes (130)
Vote: A/RES/68/28 Recorded Vote
✓ 127   ✗ 0   57 abs.
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✓ Yes (127)
Vote: A/RES/68/29 Recorded Vote
✓ 180   ✗ 0   2 abs.
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✓ Yes (180)
Vote: A/RES/68/30 Recorded Vote
✓ 165   ✗ 0   19 abs.
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✓ Yes (165)
Vote: A/RES/68/31 Recorded Vote
✓ 152   ✗ 0   29 abs.
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✓ Yes (152)
Vote: A/RES/68/32 Recorded Vote
✓ 137   ✗ 28   20 abs.
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✓ Yes (137)
Vote: A/RES/68/35 Recorded Vote
✓ 120   ✗ 53   9 abs.
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✓ Yes (120)
Vote: A/RES/68/38 Recorded Vote
✓ 127   ✗ 5   52 abs.
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✓ Yes (127)
Vote: A/RES/68/39 Recorded Vote
✓ 171   ✗ 7   5 abs.
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✓ Yes (171)
Vote: A/RES/68/40 Recorded Vote
✓ 125   ✗ 50   10 abs.
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✓ Yes (125)
Vote: A/RES/68/42 Recorded Vote
✓ 133   ✗ 24   25 abs.
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✓ Yes (133)
Vote: A/RES/68/43 Recorded Vote
✓ 154   ✗ 0   28 abs.
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✓ Yes (154)
Vote: A/RES/68/44 Recorded Vote
✓ 177   ✗ 0   4 abs.
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✓ Yes (177)
Vote: A/RES/68/46 Recorded Vote
✓ 158   ✗ 4   20 abs.
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✓ Yes (158)
Vote: A/RES/68/47 Recorded Vote
✓ 122   ✗ 44   17 abs.
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✓ Yes (122)
Vote: A/RES/68/51 Recorded Vote
✓ 169   ✗ 1   14 abs.
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✓ Yes (169)
Vote: A/RES/68/56 Recorded Vote
✓ 182   ✗ 1   2 abs.
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— Abstain (2)
✗ No (1)
✓ Yes (182)
Vote: A/RES/68/58 Recorded Vote
✓ 126   ✗ 49   9 abs.
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✓ Yes (126)
Vote: A/RES/68/65 Recorded Vote
✓ 169   ✗ 5   6 abs.
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✓ Yes (169)
Vote: A/RES/68/68 Recorded Vote
✓ 181   ✗ 1   3 abs.
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✓ Yes (181)

3.  Credentials of representatives to the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly (b) Report of the Credentials Committee (A/68/630)

The President unattributed #75841
The Assembly has before it the report of the Credentials Committee (A/68/630), which contains a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 11 of its report. The draft resolution reads as follows: “The General Assembly, having considered the report of the Credentials Committee and the recommendations contained therein, approves the report of the Credentials Committee”. I now give the floor to the Chair of the Credentials Committee to introduce the report of the Committee and the draft resolution contained therein.
Mr. Talbot GUY Guyana #75843
I have the honour to introduce the report of the Credentials Committee (A/68/630) concerning the credentials of the representatives of Member States to the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly. Having considered the credentials of the representatives at its meeting of 2 December 2013, the Committee was pleased to adopt without a vote a draft resolution accepting the credentials. I wish to record my sincere appreciation to the members of the Committee and to the Secretariat for greatly facilitating our work. I am now pleased to commend to the Assembly’s *1359226* 13-59226 (E) consideration the Committee’s recommendation, contained in paragraph 11 of its report, that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution approving the report of the Credentials Committee.

100.  Review and implementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly Report of the First Committee (A/68/412)

Vote: 31/37 Consensus

101.  Review of the implementation of the recommendations and decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session Report of the First Committee (A/68/413)

Vote: 31/37 Consensus
The President unattributed #75845
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution entitled “Credentials of representatives to the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly”, recommended by the Credentials Committee in paragraph 11 of its report. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

99.  General and complete disarmament Report of the First Committee (A/68/411)

Vote: 31/37 Consensus
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 68/22).
The President unattributed #75847
Before giving the floor to the speaker in explanation of position, may I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by representatives from their seats. I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Vote: 32/132 Consensus
Ms. Torabi IRN Islamic Republic of Iran #75850
I would like to deliver an explanation of position on the report of the Credentials Committee. My delegation has just joined the consensus on the resolution in the report. However, we would like to reiterate my Government’s position that our support for the document should in no way be considered as the recognition of the Israeli regime.
Vote: 32/132 Recorded Vote
✓ 126   ✗ 49   9 abs.
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✓ Yes (126)
The President unattributed #75852
We have heard the only speaker in explanation of position. The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 3.

116.  Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments (g) Appointment of members of the Committee on Conferences Note by the Secretary-General (A/68/91)

The President unattributed #75854
As indicated in the note by the Secretary-General (A/68/91), since the terms of office of the representatives of Austria, China, Ethiopia, Japan, Libya, the United States of America and Uruguay will expire on 31 December 2013, it will be necessary for me, as the President of the General Assembly, to appoint seven members to fill the resulting vacancies. Those members will serve for a period of three years, beginning on 1 January 2014. On the recommendation of the Chairs of the Groups of the African States, the Asia-Pacific States and the Western European and other States, I have appointed Denmark, Japan, Mauritania, Qatar, the United Republic of Tanzania and the United States of America as members of the Committee on Conferences for a period of three years, beginning on 1 January 2014. May I take it that the Assembly takes note of those appointments?
It was so decided.
Vote: 31/125 Consensus
The President unattributed #75856
I should like to remind members that one seat from the Latin American and Caribbean States for three years, beginning on 1 January 2014, remains vacant. I would also like to recall to Members that two seats from the Latin American and Caribbean States — one seat for a term beginning on the date of appointment and ending on 31 December 2014 and one seat for a term beginning on the date of appointment and ending on 31 December 2015 — have remained vacant since the sixty-sixth and sixty-seventh sessions, respectively. I urge the Group to submit its candidatures as soon as possible. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 116. (h) Appointment of a member of the Joint Inspection Unit Note by Secretary-General (A/68/107)
The President unattributed #75858
As indicated in the note by the Secretary-General (A/68/107), the General Assembly is required to appoint, during the sixty-eighth session, a member to fill a vacancy on the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) that will arise from the expiration of the term of office on 31 December 2014 of Mr. Tadanori Inomata of Japan. As also indicated in document A/68/107, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, the President of the General Assembly shall consult with Member States to draw up a list of countries — in this case, one country — which would be requested to propose a candidate for appointment to the Joint Inspection Union. Also, as indicated in paragraph 2 of the same document, the General Assembly, by its resolution 61/238, decided that beginning on 1 January 2008, the President of the Assembly, when drawing up the list of countries, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Unit, will invite Member States to submit the names of the countries and their respective candidates simultaneously, on the understanding that the candidates submitted would be candidates that the respective Member States intended to propose, to the extent possible, for appointment by the Assembly, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute. After holding the necessary consultations, I should like to communicate to the Assembly the information received from the Chair of the Group of Asia-Pacific States that the Group has endorsed Jordan to propose a candidate for the vacancy from among the Asia-Pacific States. In accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the JIU, and with resolution 61/238, of 22 December 2006, Jordan will be requested to submit the name of a candidate and the curriculum vitae highlighting the candidate’s relevant qualifications for the task. I would like to remind members that, in accordance with resolution 59/267, of 23 December 2004, the candidates should have experience in at least one of the following fields: oversight, audit, inspection, investigation, evaluation, finance, project evaluation, programme evaluation, human resources management, management, public administration, monitoring and/ or programme performance, as well as knowledge of the United Nations system and its role in international relations. After holding the appropriate consultations described in article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, including consultations with the President of the Economic and Social Council and with the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, I will submit the name of the candidate to the Assembly for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item (h) of agenda item 116. Reports of the First Committee
The President unattributed #75860
The General Assembly will now take up the reports of the First Committee on agenda items 89 to 107, 122 and 135. I now request Mr. Khodadad Seifi Pargou of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Rapporteur of the First Committee, to introduce the reports of the First Committee in one intervention. Mr. Seifi Pargou (Islamic Republic of Iran), Rapporteur of the First Committee: It gives me great pleasure to introduce to the General Assembly the reports of the First Committee on agenda items 89 to 107, 122 and 135. The reports are contained in documents A/68/401 through A/68/420 and A/68/589. In response to the General Assembly’s appeal, the First Committee continued to fully utilize its existing resources efficiently and was able to conclude its work at the current session in four weeks, in full accordance with the planned completion date, using 22 formal meetings. The work of the Committee at the present session could be characterized as very efficient, procedurally smooth and substantively constructive, especially in the light of the ongoing efforts to re-energize the process of disarmament in multilateral forums. The First Committee was assigned 22 agenda items for the current session. In the course of the general debate, more than 100 delegations, including observers, made statements. Among them, eight spoke on behalf of various groups. An unprecedented 241 statements were made within the framework of the thematic discussions during the second stage. Also during that stage, the Committee held exchanges with the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs and other high-level officials of arms control and disarmament bodies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Preparatory Commission for the the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban-Treaty Organization, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Conference on Disarmament, the Disarmament Commission and others, as well as with civil society organizations. The First Committee had before it for consideration 48 draft resolutions and five draft decisions under various disarmament and related international security agenda items. Of the 53 draft resolutions and decisions adopted, 21 — 40 per cent — were adopted without a vote. Meeting in the wake of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament, which took place on 26 September, this year the First Committee saw that nuclear disarmament issues were at centre stage for many delegations. Of the 53 draft resolutions and draft decisions adopted by the Committee, 19 were on nuclear disarmament issues, including a draft resolution on the follow-up to the highlevel meeting that included the decision to convene a United Nations high-level international conference on nuclear disarmament no later than 2018 and to declare 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. In addition, 34 draft resolutions and draft decisions were adopted by the Committee under other clusters, as follows: “Other weapons of mass destruction”, three draft resolutions, including on the Chemical Weapons Convention; “Disarmament aspects of outer space”, two draft resolutions; “Conventional weapons”, seven draft resolutions, including on the Arms Trade Treaty and on small arms and light weapons; “Other disarmament measures and international security”, nine draft resolutions; “Regional disarmament and security”, six draft resolutions; and, finally, “Disarmament machinery”, seven draft resolutions. With regard to those 53 draft resolutions and decisions, the Committee was informed of the programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.1/68/L.37, submitted under agenda item 94. At this point in my introduction of the reports of the First Committee, I would like to bring to the attention of delegations the following correction to the reports. In the light of the final calendar of United Nations holidays for 2014, with a United Nations holiday now falling on 6 October, the draft programme of work and timetable for the Committee for next year recommended in paragraph 5 of document A/68/589 is orally revised as follows. In the annex to the draft decision, the date of the meeting for the organization of work will be Friday, 3 October, in the morning. The general debate is to be held from Tuesday, 7 October, to Wednesday, 15 October, and will consist of seven meetings. The thematic discussion will be from Thursday, 16 October, to Tuesday, 28 October, with 11 meetings. The deadline for submission of draft resolutions and decisions under all agenda items will also be Thursday, 16 October, which is the first day of the thematic discussion. In conclusion, I would like to pay well-deserved tribute to all delegations for their active participation in the work of the Committee and their spirit of cooperation in the common search for a better, safer and more stable world. I should like to express special gratitude to the Chair of the First Committee, His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim Dabbashi, Permanent Representative of Libya, who, with his experience in disarmament and international security matters, skilfully led the proceedings of the Committee with vision and great leadership. I am confident that those efforts were greatly appreciated, in particular in ensuring the timely conclusion of the Committee’s work. Under Ambassador Dabbashi’s leadership, the Committee is scheduled to hold an informal meeting on 13 December to discuss its working methods, as requested by resolution 67/297, of 29 August 2013, on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. On behalf of the Committee and my own behalf, let me also extend our sincere gratitude to the Committee’s Vice-Chairs, Mr. Fernando Luque Márquez of Ecuador, Mr. Peter Winkler of Germany and Mr. Miloš Nikolić of Montenegro, for their invaluable contribution to the work of the Committee. I should also like to express my sincere appreciation to Ms. Angela Kane, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and to Mr. Tegegnework Gettu, Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, for their leadership and contributions, as well as to the Secretariat staff that assisted the Committee. Likewise, I offer a special thanks to the Secretary of the First Committee, Mr. Kenji Nakano, who, together with his team, contributed significantly to the successful outcome of the Committee’s work. With those brief remarks, I present the reports of the First Committee, as contained in documents A/68/401 through A/68/420 and A/68/589 to the General Assembly for consideration and adoption.
Vote: 32/95 Consensus
The President unattributed #75862
I thank the Rapporteur of the First Committee. If there 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 which are before the Assembly today.
It was so decided.
The President unattributed #75864
Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the 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, in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, “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”, and that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the First Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Committee, unless notified otherwise in advance. That means that where separate or recorded votes were taken, we will do the same. I should also hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the First Committee. Before proceeding further, I would like to draw the attention of members to a note by the Secretariat, in English only, entitled “Situation reports of the First Committee on agenda items 89 to 107, 122 and 135” (A/C.1/68/INF/3). The note has been distributed desk to desk in the Hall as a reference guide for action on draft resolutions and decisions recommended by the First Committee in its reports. In that connection, members will find, in the second column of the note, the symbols of the draft resolutions and decisions of the First Committee, with the corresponding symbols of the reports for action in the plenary in the fourth column. For reports containing multiple recommendations, the draft resolution or decision number is listed in the fifth column of the note. Furthermore, members are reminded that additional sponsors are no longer accepted, now that draft resolutions and decisions have been adopted by the Committee. Any clarification about sponsorship in the Committee reports should be addressed to the Secretary of the Committee.
Vote: 31/127 Consensus

89.  Reduction of military budgets Report of the First Committee (A/68/401)

The President unattributed #75866
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Vote: 31/125 Recorded Vote
✓ 137   ✗ 28   20 abs.
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✓ Yes (137)
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 68/23).
The President unattributed #75869
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 89?
Vote: 32/97 Consensus
It was so decided.
Vote: 32/95 Consensus

90.  Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace Report of the First Committee (A/68/402)

The President unattributed #75870
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of Yemen informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution was adopted by 130 votes to 4, with 45 abstentions (resolution 68/24).
Vote: 31/127 Consensus
The President unattributed duplicate #75871
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 90?
It was so decided.

91.  African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty Report of the First Committee (A/68/403)

The President unattributed duplicate #75872
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 68/25).
The President unattributed duplicate #75873
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 91?
It was so decided.

92.  Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) Report of the First Committee (A/68/404)

The President unattributed duplicate #75874
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 68/26).
The President unattributed #75875
May I take it that the Assembly wishes to conclude its consideration of agenda item 92?
It was so decided.

93.  Review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security Report of the First Committee (A/68/405)

The President unattributed #75877
The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft decision was adopted (decision 68/515).
Vote: 32/98 Consensus
The President unattributed duplicate #75879
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 93?
It was so decided.

94.  Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security Report of the First Committee (A/68/406)

The President unattributed #75881
In relation to the draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 8 of its report, I should like to inform members that the Assembly will be in a position to take action on the draft resolution after the Fifth Committee has considered its programme budget implications. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 94.
Vote: 32/99 Consensus

95.  Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East Report of the First Committee (A/68/407)

The President unattributed duplicate #75884
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 68/27).
The President unattributed #75886
I give the floor to the representative of Israel, who wishes to speak in explanation of position.
Mr. Roet ISR Israel #75887
Once again Israel, has joined the consensus on resolution 68/27, entitled “Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free-zone in the region of the Middle East”. Notwithstanding our ongoing substantive reservations regarding the resolution’s modalities, we did so because Israel remains committed to a vision of the Middle East developing eventually into a zone free of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, as well as of ballistic missiles. Nonetheless, Israel has always maintained that this issue, as all other regional securityrelated issues, could be realistically addressed only in the regional context. Israel’s perspective and policy in the field of regional security and arms control have always been based on a pragmatic and realistic approach. It is rooted in its belief that all security concerns of regional members should be taken into account and addressed within the regional context. The disturbing realities in the Middle East mandate a practical, step-by-step approach, bearing in mind the goal of achieving peaceful relations and reconciliation among all the States in the region. That process is inherently an incremental one. It can realistically begin only with modest arrangements for confidenceand security-building measures in order to build the stable infrastructure and the necessary trust for more ambitious cooperative security undertakings. It has been Israel’s long-standing position that the essential preconditions for the establishment of the Middle East as a mutually verifiable zone free of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems are comprehensive and durable regional peace and full compliance by all regional States with their arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation obligations. Regrettably, at present, no regional dialogue exists in the Middle East, nor is there a forum to develop confidence-building measures and to defuse tensions. The Middle East countries have no regional forum in which everyone can directly communicate with each other and have a dialogue on core issues affecting their security. At the beginning of the 1990s, the arms control and regional security talks were the appropriate forum in which to promote confidence and address security issues and challenges in the area. Such a mechanism is lacking today in that there is no channel of direct discussion among the States of the Middle East. Unfortunately, as expressed earlier today in this Hall, some States in the region do not even recognize the State of Israel. No majority vote or one-sided resolutions in international forums can be a substitute for a broad regional dialogue and cooperation. Our vision of what we can do in the space between aspiration and reality begins with the need to establish confidence-building measures and make genuine efforts to reduce tensions in the area with our neighbours through direct dialogue based on consensus. The region of the Middle East is undergoing historic and significant transformational challenges. The current turmoil in our neighbouring countries gives a clear example of how fragile and unstable the region is today. Any regional security dialogue has to focus on tangible threats like rockets and missiles, which are vital components of any regional disarmament. Despite the current situation, Israel is positively engaged with the European Union. It participated in seminars on confidence-building measures in July 2011 and November 2012, as well as in the International Atomic Energy Agency Forum on Experience of Possible Relevance to the Creation of a Nuclear- Weapons-Free-Zone in the Middle East, in 2011. Israel has also conducted meetings with the Under Secretary of State of Finland, Ambassador Laajava, to discuss issues related to regional security and participated in multilateral consultations in Vienna in August 2013 and in recent consultations in Lyons. We believe that only direct dialogue between Israel and Arab States, based on the principles of consensus, can build confidence and trust between the regional parties. Israel sincerely hopes that the future will yield a more stable and secure Middle East in which an environment of peace and reconciliation prevails. In that context, we hope that the positive implications of the democratization process that have been budding in the region may offer an opportunity for a better atmosphere, which could be conducive to the building of trust and confidence among the regional parties.
Vote: 32/100 Recorded Vote
✓ 127   ✗ 5   52 abs.
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✓ Yes (127)
The President unattributed duplicate #75891
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 95?
It was so decided.

96.  Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons Report of the First Committee (A/68/408)

The President unattributed duplicate #75894
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution was adopted by 127 votes to none, with 57 abstentions (resolution 68/28).
The President unattributed duplicate #75896
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 96?
It was so decided.

97.  Prevention of an arms race in outer space Report of the First Committee (A/68/409)

The President unattributed duplicate #75898
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution was adopted by 180 votes to none, with 2 abstentions (resolution 68/29).
The President unattributed duplicate #75902
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 97?
It was so decided.

98.  Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament Report of the First Committee (A/68/410)

The President unattributed duplicate #75904
The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Vote: 32/127 Recorded Vote
✓ 125   ✗ 50   10 abs.
Show country votes
✓ Yes (125)
The draft decision was adopted (decision 68/516).
The President unattributed duplicate #75906
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 98?
It was so decided.
Vote: 32/128 Consensus
The President unattributed #75912
The Assembly has before it 27 draft resolutions recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 70 of its report and two draft decisions recommended by the Committee in paragraph 71 of the same report. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolutions I to XXVII and draft decisions I and II, one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will have the opportunity to explain their votes on any or all of the draft resolutions and draft decisions. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution I was adopted by 165 votes to none, with 19 abstentions (resolution 68/30).
The President unattributed #75913
We now turn to draft resolution II, entitled “The Arms Trade Treaty”. A recorded vote has been requested. Separate, recorded votes have been requested on operative paragraphs 1 and 3 of draft resolution II. I shall first put to the vote operative paragraph 1.
Vote: 39/192 Recorded Vote
✓ 133   ✗ 24   25 abs.
Show country votes
✓ Yes (133)
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 1 was retained by 153 votes to none, with 28 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75914
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 3 of draft resolution II.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 3 was retained by 153 votes to none, with 29 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75917
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution II as a whole. [Subsequently, the delegation of Morocco informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution II, as a whole, was adopted by 152 votes to none, with 29 abstentions (resolution 68/31).
The President unattributed #75920
Draft resolution III is entitled “Follow-up to the 2013 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of Togo informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution III was adopted by 137 votes to 28, with 20 abstentions (resolution 68/32).
The President unattributed #75923
Draft resolution IV is entitled, “Women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the likewise?
Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 68/33).
The President unattributed #75925
Draft resolution V is entitled “Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the likewise?
Draft resolution V was adopted (resolution 68/34).
The President unattributed #75928
Draft resolution VI is entitled “Follow-up to nuclear disarmament obligations agreed to at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons”. A recorded vote has been requested. Separate, recorded votes have been requested on the sixth and ninth preambular paragraphs. I shall first put to the vote the sixth preambular paragraph.
A recorded vote was taken.
The sixth preambular paragraph was retained by 124 votes to 5, with 50 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75929
I shall now put to the vote the ninth preambular paragraph.
A recorded vote was taken.
The ninth preambular paragraph was retained by 125 votes to 5, with 47 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75932
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution VI as a whole. [Subsequently, the delegations of Morocco and Togo informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution VI, as a whole, was adopted by 120 votes to 53, with 9 abstentions (resolution 68/35).
The President unattributed #75933
Draft resolution VII is entitled “Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to likewise?
Draft resolution VII was adopted (resolution 68/36).
The President unattributed #75937
Draft resolution VIII is entitled “Relationship between disarmament and development”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to likewise?
Draft resolution VIII was adopted (resolution 68/37).
The President unattributed #75940
Draft resolution IX is entitled “Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution IX was adopted by 127 votes to 5, with 52 abstentions (resolution 68/38).
The President unattributed #75943
Draft resolution X is entitled “Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments”. A recorded vote has been requested. Separate, recorded votes have been requested on operative paragraphs 9 and 11 of draft resolution X. I shall first put to the vote operative paragraph 9.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 9 was retained by 168 votes to 5, with 3 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75945
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 11.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 11 was retained by 172 votes to 4, with 4 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75948
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution X as a whole. [Subsequently, the delegation of Chile informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution X, as a whole, was adopted by 171 votes to 7, with 5 abstentions (resolution 68/39).
The President unattributed #75951
Draft resolution XI is entitled, “Reducing nuclear danger”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XI was adopted by 125 votes to 50, with 10 abstentions (resolution 68/40).
The President unattributed #75953
Draft resolution XII is entitled, “Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Vote: 40/230 Consensus
Draft resolution XII was adopted (resolution 68/41).
The President unattributed #75955
Draft resolution XIII is entitled “Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XIII was adopted by 133 votes to 24, with 25 abstentions (resolution 68/42).
Vote: 37//6/ Recorded Vote
✓ 158   ✗ 4   20 abs.
Show country votes
✓ Yes (158)
The President unattributed #75957
Draft resolution XIV is entitled “Transparency in armaments”. A recorded vote has been requested. Separate, recorded votes have been requested on the sixth and seventh preambular paragraphs and on operative paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6 (a), 6 (b), 6 as a whole and 8 of draft resolution XIV. I shall first put to the vote the sixth preambular paragraph.
A recorded vote was taken.
The sixth preambular paragraph was retained by 142 votes to none, with 36 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75958
I shall now put to the vote the seventh preambular paragraph.
A recorded vote was taken.
The seventh preambular paragraph was retained by 143 votes to none, with 36 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75960
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 3.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 3 was retained by 150 votes to none, with 30 abstentions.
Vote: 40/233 Consensus
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 4 was retained by 156 votes to none, with 25 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75961
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 5.
Vote: 36/170 Consensus
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 5 was retained by 153 votes to none, with 26 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75963
I shall now put to the vote sub-paragraph (a) of operative paragraph 6.
Vote: 48/140 Consensus
A recorded vote was taken.
Sub-paragraph (a) of operative paragraph 6 was retained by 155 votes to none, with 27 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75965
I shall now put to the vote sub-paragraph (b) of operative paragraph 6.
A recorded vote was taken.
Sub-paragraph (b) of operative paragraph 6 was retained by 155 votes to none, with 26 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75966
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 6, as a whole.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 6, as a whole, was retained by 153 votes to none, with 28 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75969
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 8.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 8 was retained by 158 votes to none, with 24 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75971
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution XIV as a whole.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XIV, as a whole, was adopted by 154 votes to none, with 28 abstentions (resolution 68/43).
The President unattributed #75973
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution XV, entitled “National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology”. A recorded vote has been requested. Separate, recorded votes have been requested on the seventh and eighth preambular paragraphs and on operative paragraph 1. I shall first put to the vote the seventh preambular paragraph.
A recorded vote was taken.
The seventh preambular was retained by 162 votes to none, with 17 absentions.
Vote: 56/169 Consensus
The President unattributed #75975
I shall now put to the vote the eighth preambular paragraph.
A recorded vote was taken.
The eighth preambular paragraph was retained by 162 votes to none, with 14 absentions.
Vote: 56/230 Consensus
The President unattributed #75976
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 1.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 1 was retained by 164 votes to none, with 13 abstentions.
Vote: 56/170 Consensus
The President unattributed #75978
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution XV as a whole.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XV, as a whole, was adopted by 177 votes to none, with 4 absentions (resolution 68/44).
Vote: 47/147 Consensus
The President unattributed #75981
Draft resolution XVI is entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution XVI was adopted (resolution 68/45).
The President unattributed #75985
I shall now put to a vote draft resolution XVII, entitled “Taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XVII was adopted by 158 votes to 4, with 20 abstentions (resolution 68/46).
The President unattributed #75988
Draft resolution XVIII is entitled “Nuclear disarmament”. A recorded vote has been requested. A separate, recorded vote has been requested on operative paragraph 16. I now shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 16.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 16 of draft resolution XVIII was retained by 176 votes to 2, with 4 abstentions.
The President unattributed #75990
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution XVIII as a whole.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XVIII, as a whole, was adopted by 122 to 44, with 17 abstentions (resolution 68/47).
The President unattributed #75993
Draft resolution XIX is entitled “Illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Vote: 32/132 Recorded Vote
✓ 179   ✗ 1   5 abs.
Show country votes
✗ No (1)
✓ Yes (179)
Draft resolution XIX was adopted (resolution 68/48).
The President unattributed #75995
Draft resolution XX is entitled “Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty)”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution XX was adopted (resolution 68/49).
The President unattributed #75998
We now turn to draft resolution XXI, entitled “Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution XXI was adopted (resolution 68/50).
The President unattributed #75999
Draft resolution XXII is entitled “United action towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons”. A recorded vote has been requested. Separate, recorded votes have been requested on operative paragraphs 2, 8, 9 and 17. I shall first put to the vote operative paragraph 2.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 2 was retained by 176 votes to 3, with 3 abstentions.
The President unattributed duplicate #76002
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 8.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 8 was retained by 178 votes to 1, with 3 abstentions.
The President unattributed #76005
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 9.
A recorded vote was taken.
The President unattributed #76007
I shall now put to the vote operative paragraph 17.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 17 was retained by 174 votes to 1, with 7 abstentions.
The President unattributed #76010
I shall now put to a vote draft resolution XXII as a whole.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XXII, as a whole, was adopted by 169 votes to 1, with 14 abstentions (resolution 68/51).
The President unattributed #76011
Draft resolution XXIII is entitled “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution XXIII was adopted (resolution 68/52).
The President unattributed #76014
Draft resolution XXIV is entitled “Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution XXIV was adopted (resolution 68/53).
The President unattributed #76017
Draft resolution XXV is entitled “Regional disarmament”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution XXV was adopted (resolution 68/54).
The President unattributed #76019
Draft resolution XXVI is entitled “Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution XXVI was adopted (resolution 68/55).
The President unattributed #76021
Draft resolution XXVII is entitled “Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels”. A recorded vote has been requested. A separate, recorded vote has been requested on operative paragraph 2. The Assembly will first vote on operative paragraph 2.
A recorded vote was taken.
Operative paragraph 2 was retained by 145 votes to 2, with 35 abstentions.
The President unattributed #76023
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution XXVII as a whole.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XXVII, as a whole, was adopted by 182 votes to 1, with 2 abstentions (resolution 68/56).
The President unattributed #76024
I now invite delegations to turn to paragraph 71 of section III of the Committee’s report, concerning the draft decisions. We turn to draft decision 1, entitled “Missiles”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft decision I was adopted (decision 68/517).
The President unattributed #76026
Draft decision II is entitled “Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft decision II was adopted by 179 votes to 1, with 5 abstentions (decision 68/518).
The President unattributed #76027
I shall now give the floor to those delegations wishing to speak in explanation of vote or position.
Mr. Roet ISR Israel #76030
The inherent utility of a fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT) in addressing the current growing proliferation challenges, including non-compliance by States with their international obligations in the nuclear domain, is far from being proven. That holds especially true for the Middle East, where several States have an exceptionally poor track record of compliance with their nuclear non-proliferation obligations. It has been Israel’s long-standing position that the idea of an FMCT is subsumed in the concept of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, the essential prerequisites for which are far from being fulfilled.
Mr. Seifi Pargou IRN Islamic Republic of Iran #76031
I take the floor to explain the position of my delegation regarding decision 68/518, just adopted, on the treaty banning the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. This year my delegation joined the consensus in adopting that decision only due to its nature. It is merely a procedural decision that does not cover substantive aspects of the subject. The position of my country in regard to banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices is clear. It is partly reflected in the report of the Secretary-General contained in document A/68/154. In the view of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the more serious threat to the international peace and security and to the very survival of civilization is the continued existence of nuclear weapons, their vertical and horizontal proliferation and the risk of their possible use. There is no legal, political or security reason to justify the continued possession of nuclear weapons. Therefore their total elimination is the only absolute guarantee against the intentional or accidental use of such weapons. In that context, aligning itself with the overwhelming majority of States, Iran strongly supports the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. In our view, the best and most practical measure to achieve that noble goal is the early conclusion of a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons to prohibit their possession, development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer and use or threat of use and to provide for their total elimination as soon as possible in an irreversible and transparent manner under strict international verification. Iran strongly supports the call made today by the General Assembly, through the adoption of resolution 68/32, for the adoption of a balanced and comprehensive programme of work for the Conference on Disarmament that includes, in particular, the immediate commencement of negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention. Taking into account the fact that nuclear disarmament is the highest priority on the international disarmament agenda, we believe that negotiations on such a convention must be at the top of the agenda of the Conference on Disarmament. The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly believes that any instrument to ban the production and provide for the total elimination of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices should be comprehensive and non-discriminatory. It must be of a nuclear disarmament nature and, accordingly, its scope must cover past, present and future production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices and must provide for the declaration and total elimination of all stocks of such material by a fixed date. Moreover, such an instrument should not provide in any way whatsoever the grounds for the recognition of any new status for possessors of nuclear weapons. It should oblige all nuclear-weapon possessors and all nuclearweapon States without exception to completely end the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices and to declare and destroy all stockpiles of such materials. All such obligations should be fulfilled within a specified framework of time in an irreversible and transparent manner and under strict international verification.
Mr. Aljowaily EGY Egypt #76034
I would like to deliver an explanation of vote on decision 68/518, regarding the treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices. Egypt has always considered a treaty on fissile material as an important step towards achieving nuclear disarmament. This can be clearly seen in the inclusion of step 3 in the New Agenda Coalition-sponsored language in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, in the 13 practical steps for the systematic and progressive efforts towards nuclear disarmament. Step 3 called on the Conference on Disarmament to negotiate a non-discriminatory, multilateral and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices taking into consideration both “nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation objectives”. We note that decision 68/515 refers to resolution 67/53 of 3 December 2012. Egypt maintains that that resolution did not adequately meet the basic requisite of clearly including existing stockpiles of fissile materials for military uses in any potential treaty. The resolution lacked operative language clearly referring to the potential treaty having to contribute to achieving general and complete nuclear disarmament. We do welcome the creation of a group of governmental experts mandated to make recommendations on possible aspects that could contribute to but not negotiate a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. We are keen to contribute substantively to its deliberations with a view to ensuring that any potential fissile material treaty would take into consideration both nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives. Egypt will continue to seek the prompt adoption of a comprehensive and balanced programme of work for the Conference on Disarmament that would deal not only with the fissile material treaty but also with the other core issues on the agenda of the Conference.
The President unattributed duplicate #76036
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 99?
It was so decided.
The President unattributed #76325
The Assembly has before it six draft resolutions recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 22 of its report. We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I to VI, one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will have the opportunity to explain their vote on any or all of the draft resolutions. We first turn to draft resolution I, entitled “United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 68/57).
The President unattributed #76326
Draft resolution II is entitled “Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution II was adopted by 126 votes to 49, with 9 abstentions (resolution 68/58).
The President unattributed #76327
Draft resolution III is entitled “United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 68/59).
The President unattributed #76328
Draft resolution IV is entitled “United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 68/60).
The President unattributed #76329
Draft resolution V is entitled “United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution V was adopted (resolution 68/61).
The President unattributed #76330
Draft resolution VI is entitled “Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution VI was adopted (resolution 68/62).
The President unattributed duplicate #76331
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 100?
It was so decided.
The President unattributed #76386
The Assembly has before it two draft resolutions recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 10 of its report. We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I and II. Draft resolution I is entitled “Report of the Disarmament Commission”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 68/63).
The President unattributed #76387
We now turn to draft resolution II entitled “Report of the Conference on Disarmament”. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 68/64).
The President unattributed #76388
I now call on the representative of the Russian Federation.
Mr. Iliichev RUS Russian Federation [Russian] #76389
The Russian delegation would like to inform the General Assembly that the joint statement of like-minded States in support of the Conference on Disarmament, which was read out by our delegation in the First Committee, was joined by the Republic of Tajikistan.
The President unattributed duplicate #76390
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 101?
It was so decided.

102.  The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East Report of the First Committee (A/68/414)

The President unattributed #76391
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”, recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested. Separate, recorded votes have been requested on the fifth and sixth preambular paragraphs of the draft resolution. I shall first put to the vote the fifth preambular paragraph.
A recorded vote was taken
The fifth preambular paragraph was retained by 173 votes to 2, with 2 abstentions.
The President unattributed #76392
I shall now put to the vote the sixth preambular paragraph.
A recorded vote was taken.
The sixth preambular paragraph was retained by 173 to 2, with 2 abstentions.
The President unattributed #76393
I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution as a whole.
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution as a whole was adopted by 169 votes to 5, with 6 abstentions (resolution 68/65).
The President unattributed #76394
I shall now give the floor to those speakers who have asked to speak in explanation of vote after the voting.
Mr. Roet ISR Israel #76395
Every year, we question the motivation of the authors behind the resolution entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East” and the motivation of the States that vote in favour of that resolution. We cannot help but wonder whether the distance between New York and the Middle East has not been stretched unnaturally to such an extent that their vision has been irreparably blurred. There is no question as to there being a risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. Israel has continuously and consistently drawn attention to that danger. With four out of the five widely acknowledged cases of gross non-compliance with Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) obligations having taken place in the Middle East and a fifth case, namely, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea being also heavily involved in nuclear proliferation to the Middle East, it does not take great cognitive powers to see the problem. All of those cases fundamentally challenge Israel’s security and cast a dark shadow on the prospects of embarking on a meaningful regional security process. That history also demonstrates the cynical way in which some regional States treat their international commitments in the nuclear domain, while those States and others exploit the multilateral arena and the automatic majority that exists against Israel. In that context, we wonder whether the current turmoil and transformation process under way in the region will shed light on the full extent of the real proliferation risks in the region. Israel had expected that, under the rubric “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”, the international community would look closely at the cases of Iran and Syria. These are two regional States that are under ongoing investigations by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) owing to their clandestine activities in contravention of their obligations under the NPT. It cannot be overemphasized that those countries have been the subject of numerous Security Council resolutions and decisions by the IAEA Board of Governors. At a minimum, Israel would expect all States of that region to comply with their relevant international non-proliferation obligations. The resolution just adopted (resolution 68/65) chooses to ignore relevant IAEA and Security Council resolutions, as well as the evidence contained in IAEA reports regarding gross violations by Iran and Syria. Adopting such an ill-motivated and unbalanced resolution, which aims at singling out Israel in a biased manner, will not serve the greater objective of curbing proliferation in the Middle East, nor will it contribute to the role and standing of this body in advancing peace and security in the Middle East. Similarly, it would not be consistent with the responsible behaviour we expect of States in the region and of the international community at large, if there is a genuine interest in regional security. We therefore call on delegations not to play into the hands of those who wish to divert attention from the real problems of the Middle East.
Mr. Seifi Pargou IRN Islamic Republic of Iran #76396
I would like to explain the position of my delegation regarding the resolution 68/65, on the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. As in previous years, we voted in favour of the resolution, which deals with the most important aspect of security in the Middle East, namely, the threat of nuclear weapons coming from the Israeli regime. The weapons of mass destruction of that regime, in particular its nuclear weapons, are the only source of threat to peace and security in that volatile region and beyond. They are also the only obstacle to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, which was proposed by Iran in 1974. Since then, the General Assembly has continued to adopt resolutions endorsing that proposal and to recognize that the establishment of the zone would greatly enhance regional and international peace and security. However, it is a source of grave concern that, despite the repeated calls of the international community — in particular the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the participants in the 2010 Conference of Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), as well as successive summits and ministerial conferences of the Non-Aligned Movement  — Israel has still not acceded to the NPT. Consequently, no progress has been made so far on the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East. The failure to convene the 2012 conference on the establishment of such a zone, which was due only to Israel’s objection, was yet another unwelcome development in that regard and seriously challenges the integrity and credibility of the non-proliferation regime and the consensus agreements reached at successive NPT Review Conferences. At the same time, there have been expressions of deep concern on that issue and strong calls for convening the conference early this year by the overwhelming majority of political groups, States and civil society, especially during the second session of the NPT Preparatory Committee and the IAEA General Conference. The high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament, the general debate, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, article XIV conferences and the meetings of the First Committee have made it crystal clear that the establishment of such a zone enjoys continued strong international support. In order to avoid the further negative consequences of delays in implementing the 1995 resolution on the establishment of such a zone and the 2010 NPT Review Conference plan of action on the Middle East, the core convenors of the conference must exert the utmost pressure on Israel to participate. In that regard, I stress that the conference should be conducted according to the NPT Review Conference rules of procedure, in particular the rule of consensus, and its agenda should consist only of the establishment of a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction, as identified in the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference. Therefore, agreement on a time-bound plan of action for achieving the universality of the NPT in the Middle East that would lead to the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in that region should be the only focus of the conference. Any precondition for participation in the conference or for the establishment of such a zone is contrary to the letter and spirit of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East and to the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference, and should therefore be carefully avoided.
Mr. Ri Tong Il PRK Democratic People's Republic of Korea #76397
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea supported resolution 68/65, just adopted, because of its support for ending proliferation in the Middle East. Concerning the remarks made by the representative of Israel, I have a question with regard to the geographical location of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. I think we are discussing the resolution on the Middle East, not the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or the Korean peninsula in North-East Asia. There is no reason for the Israeli representative to name the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It is totally misleading to target my country. Israel is a nuclear-weapon State, and nobody is questioning that. If I were to ask the representative of Israel for information on his country’s possession of nuclear weapons, I am sure that he would never ever answer my question. Israeli policy is the policy of neither confirm nor deny. Last year, for instance, the Israeli delegation pointed once again at the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Israel is a fully fledged nuclear-weapon State. It has over 200 nuclear weapons. They were manufactured with the silent support — both open and clandestine — of the United States. That was done under the umbrella of the United States with its totally double standards. Why is the United States singling out the weapons of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, while it has never ever pointed at Israel?
The President unattributed #76398
May I take it that the Assembly wishes to conclude its consideration of agenda item 102?
It was so decided.

103.  Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects Report of the First Committee (A/68/415)

The President unattributed duplicate #76399
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 68/66).
The President unattributed duplicate #76400
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 103?
It was so decided.

104.  Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region Report of the First Committee (A/68/416)

The President unattributed duplicate #76401
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 68/67).
The President unattributed duplicate #76402
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 104?
It was so decided.

105.  Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Report of the First Committee (A/68/417)

The President unattributed #76404
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested. A separate, recorded vote has been requested on the sixth preambular paragraph. I shall first put to the vote the sixth preambular paragraph.
A recorded vote was taken.
The sixth preambular paragraph was retained by 178 votes to 1, with 4 abstentions.
The President unattributed duplicate #76405
I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution as a whole.
A recorded vote was taken.
The President unattributed #76408
I now give the floor to the representative of Israel in explanation of vote.
Mr. Roet ISR Israel #76410
Israel voted in favour of resolution 68/68 because of the importance it attaches to the objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty (CTBT) presented in the text. Israel cannot, however, support, and has strong reservations regarding some of, the language, including in the sixth preambular paragraph and in paragraph 1. It is the long-standing position of Israel that the CTBT and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) are not linked. An attempt to artificially force such a linkage, especially through a reference to the Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT — a forum that Israel is not a member of — would only jeopardize the CTBT and its noble causes, as well as any prospect for better regional security in the Middle East. Israel’s signing of the CTBT in 1996 reflected its long-standing policy of aligning itself more closely, wherever possible, to international norms on nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation. Since the establishment of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Israel has actively participated in the development of all elements of the CTBT verification regime. Israel also transmits data from its certified seismic stations to the International Data Centre and actively participates in various activities related to on-site inspections. I am pleased to announce that Israel’s radionuclide laboratory supporting the International Monitoring System has recently been certified. That substantive and intensive involvement demonstrates the importance that Israel attributes to the CTBT and its contribution to the enhancement of international peace and security. Israel appreciates the significant progress made in the development of the CTBT verification regime, whose completion is a prerequisite to the entry into force of the Treaty. However, completing the verification regime still requires further efforts. Major steps are still needed for the continued build-up and testing of the International Monitoring System stations, the completion of the on-site inspection operational manual, and equipment purchase and training. In that regard, we commend the Executive Secretary and the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the CTBT for their ongoing work and preparations for Integrated Field Exercise 2014, to be hosted in Jordan. For Israel, the regional security situation in the Middle East, including adherence to and compliance with the Treaty by States in the region, is a major consideration for ratification. It is Israel’s view that the Treaty’s verification regime should be robust enough to detect non-compliance with its basic obligations, be immune to abuse and at the same time allow each signatory State to protect its national security interests. For Israel, the completion of the verification regime constitutes a major consideration for ratification, as we would like to ensure that there is adequate coverage of the Middle East by the International Monitoring System. In addition, Israel’s status in the policymaking organs of the Treaty, including those connected with the geographical regions of the Middle East and South Asia, and in the Executive Council of the future CTBTO, must be addressed. Sovereign equality, which is a cornerstone of multilateralism, must be ensured. Pending its entry into force, we believe that the CTBT should be advanced further by States taking upon themselves the following commitments and activities. They must maintain the commitment not to carry out any nuclear-weapon test explosion, in line with the Treaty’s basic obligations, and to complete as soon as possible the CTBT verification regime. States must operate, maintain and test the International Monitoring System and the International Data Centre in order to gain experience and provide early detection capabilities and, where there are coverage gaps in the International Monitoring System stations, take temporary measures to fill those gaps, such as operating auxiliary seismic stations as primary ones until all primary stations are effectively functioning and transferring data. And States must maintain the technical and apolitical nature of the work of the Preparatory Commission and respect its rules and procedures. As we have done in previous years, Israel voted in favour of the resolution on the CTBT. Our voting pattern stems from and reflects the importance we attach to the objectives of the CTBT. It is our hope that they will be realized faithfully and in a forthcoming manner.
The President unattributed duplicate #76412
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 105?
It was so decided.

106.  Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction Report of the First Committee (A/68/418)

The President unattributed duplicate #76414
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 68/69).
The President unattributed duplicate #76416
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 106?
It was so decided.

107.  Revitalizing the work of the Conference on Disarmament and taking forward multilateral disarmament negotiations Report of the First Committee (A/68/419)

The President unattributed duplicate #76418
The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The First Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft decision was adopted (decision 68/519).
The President unattributed duplicate #76422
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 107?
It was so decided.

122.  Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly Report of the First Committee (A/68/589)

The President unattributed #76424
The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the First Committee in paragraph 5 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The First Committee recommended that the Assembly adopt the draft decision, entitled “Proposed programme of work and timetable of the First Committee for 2014”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft decision, as orally revised earlier by the Rapporteur of the Committee? The draft decision, as orally revised, was adopted (decision 68/520).
The President unattributed #76427
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 122.
It was so decided.

135.  Programme planning Report of the First Committee (A/68/420)

The President unattributed #76429
The Assembly will now consider the report of the First Committee on agenda item 135, “Programme planning”. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the First Committee?
It was so decided.
The President unattributed #76432
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 135.
It was so decided.
The President unattributed #76433
I call on the representative of Saudi Arabia to make a statement.
Mr. Al Saad SAU Saudi Arabia on behalf of Group of Arab States [Arabic] #76438
It is my great pleasure to speak on behalf of the Group of Arab States. The Arab Group continues to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts at the regional and global levels. All States members of the Group of Arab States at the United Nations have become party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Furthermore, they have strengthened that commitment through unprecedented initiatives leading to the General Assembly’s adoption of an annual resolution entitled “Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East”, which reflects the international consensus on achieving that primary objective not only regionally, but in terms of international peace and security. The Arab Group also proposed an implementation mechanism to negotiate the establishment of the nuclear-weapon-free zone, and the international community again backed that Arab initiative. The participants in the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT decided to convene a conference in 2012 on establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. In that context, I note that the Arab Peace Initiative provides the necessary basis for achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The Arab Group’s initiatives provide concrete measures to effectively foster confidence-building and to guarantee security within the framework of the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. In that context, the Council of the League of Arab States adopted resolution 7718 on 10 November in support of the Egyptian initiative, which was aimed at following up on efforts to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East and at informing the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the Arab League’s support for the declaration of the Middle East as a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. In addition to proposing those concrete confidence-building measures, the Arab States have stated their readiness to engage in serious dialogue towards implementing the collective commitments of the international community, namely, the creation of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, as provided for in the plan of action of the 2010 NPT Review Conference. In that context, delegations of 16 Arab States and the secretariat of the League of Arab States participated in the two meetings held recently in Switzerland, following the invitation of the Facilitator and the parties organizing the postponed 2012 conference, as a signal of openness and readiness to engage in dialogue aimed at implementing the collective commitment to convene the conference without further delay. It is unfortunate that, despite the propitious Arab commitment in favour of nuclear disarmament, the proposed practical initiatives to achieve that noble objective, the Arab Peace Initiative, the readiness to engage in dialogue and the statement on confidence-building measures, the only continuous obstacle we face in the Middle East is the intransigent position of Israel. As the only non-party to the NPT in the region, it is a nuclear State that has not placed its nuclear facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency’s comprehensive safeguards system, thereby undermining international peace and security, and is considered a source of threat to nuclear security and safety. Israel has also continued its non-compliance with relevant international resolutions. For example, it has not yet announced whether it will participate in the postponed 2012 conference on nuclear disarmament and the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. Despite that, the international community’s desire to achieve the non-negotiable objective of global nuclear disarmament remains greater than the obstacle presented by Israel, which will not be able to stop the course of history, which seeks the total elimination of nuclear weapons and their disastrous humanitarian consequences. Israel’s intransigence serves only to strengthen the will of Arab States to work towards that just objective, which is critical to achieving international peace and security. The Arab Group is reassured by the fact that it does not stand alone. Its approach is rooted in the international consensus reaffirmed in General Assembly resolutions and the Resolution on the Middle East adopted at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, which established a substantive link between the indefinite extension of the NPT and the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. The content of that resolution was reflected during the 2010 Review Conference in the call for the convening of a conference on the establishment of such a zone. The elimination of nuclear weapons in the Middle East is a joint responsibility. The Arab Group has made the necessary commitment. The remainder is the task of the parties entrusted with organizing the conference on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, following the postponement for flimsy reasons that ultimately cannot be justified. The parties should convene the delayed conference as soon as possible in 2013, with the participation of all the States of the Middle East, in order to mark the relaunching of the process to establish a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, as an integral part of the implementation of the plan of action of the 2010 Review Conference. That commitment will be reassessed during the 2015 Review Conference. Furthermore, responsibility for that commitment must be taken on by Member States of the United Nations, as well as by members of the international civil society in its broader definition, which includes non-governmental organizations, parliamentarians, and academic and research institutions. Those groups must inform international public opinion of their involvement and raise global awareness of the need to establish a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. As part of such efforts, Egypt introduced, on behalf of the States members of the League of Arab States, the annual resolution entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East” (resolution 68/65). That resolution takes on greater importance this year as it reaffirms the need to convene the conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction as soon as possible, and to ensure the full and immediate implementation of the commitments under the action plan on the Middle East adopted by the 2010 Review Conference. Now is the time for action, which has been too long delayed. The starting point occurred 40 years ago with the adoption of resolution 3263 (XXIX), on the elimination of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. We return to the General Assembly and ask it to play its part in putting the process back on track and speeding it up, so that we can achieve the noble objective of establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. That in turn will contribute towards the goal of comprehensive nuclear disarmament.
The President on behalf of General Assembly unattributed #76439
On behalf of the General Assembly, I would like to thank the Chairman of the First Committee, Ambassador Dabbashi of Libya, the other members of the Bureau, the Secretary of the Committee and all representatives who participated in the work of the First Committee for the excellent job done. The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of the reports of the First Committee before it.
The meeting rose at 12.55 p.m.
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UN Project. “A/68/PV.60.” UN Project, https://un-project.org/meeting/A-68-PV-60/. Accessed .