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6 February 2007

On Tuesday, February 6th, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) held its first public session focused on a single agenda item: Agenda Item 1, cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament.

The following countries made statements on this agenda item: the European Union (EU) in a statement delivered by Germany, the United States (US), Morocco, Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, Peru, and Japan, followed by remarks from Russia and North Korea. The CD also agreed to invite Madagascar to participate as an observer. 

Governments mainly discussed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), negotiation of a Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), and the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Most governments expressed their support and hope for improving these important disarmament mechanisms. Syria also proposed the CD negotiate a new disarmament mechanism: an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. 

Many countries made statements reaffirming the importance of the NPT as the cornerstone of disarmament. Most cited the need for the achievement of meaningful results to strengthen the treaty at the upcoming review cycle, beginning in Vienna this spring. 

The EU, Egypt, Pakistan, the US and Japan reaffirmed the importance of Article VI of the NPT, which calls on states parties to the NPT to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament. Egypt recalled the importance of the 13 practical steps outlined at the 2000 NPT Review Conference as "an internationally endorsed roadmap to fulfill the obligation of nuclear disarmament." The EU stressed the need for an overall reduction of the global stockpile of nuclear weapons in accordance with Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), particularly by those with the largest arsenals. While welcoming US and Russian reductions under the START and Moscow Treaties, the European Union also noted the approaching expiration of those treaties and called for further reductions under follow-on processes. Japan urged Russia and the US to fully implement the Moscow Treaty, and to begin irreversible and verifiable reductions beyond those provided for in the Treaty. The US cataloged its reductions and said that complete nuclear disarmament was contingent upon improvement in the international security environment, for which all states parties to the NPT are responsible.

Interestingly, Russia delivered a statement in which it affirmed its commitments to the NPT and its bilateral commitments with the US, and declared the arms race “effectively over.” It also declared that it was prepared to negotiate an FMCT without preconditions. However, Ambassador Loshchinin qualified, things could be impacted by events, such as the growth in financing for military preparations or the appearance of new military weapons. Russia then gave the example of the deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space as something that would have a very negative effect on nuclear disarmament negotiations. Switching to English, he quoted US Ambassador Rocca’s statement that, “the objective of all states should be to create an environment in which it is no longer necessary for anyone to rely on nuclear weapons for security.”

The US mused about what kind of world would allow the elimination of nuclear weapons, and, although Ambassador Rocca said that governments would have to not harbor terrorists and there would have to be some non-nuclear military means of ensuring security, she essentially concluded it would have to be an environment of equal security for all. “Fundamentally,” said the US, “we are talking about a world in which the lessening of international tension and the strengthening of international trust make it possible for us all to transcend the competitive military dynamics and concerns that have helped encourage reliance upon nuclear weapons to date.”

The EU, the US, Japan and Peru also noted the importance of beginning negotiation of an FMCT. Peru and Japan said negotiations should begin without preconditions, while Russia was willing to begin negotiations without preconditions. The EU held that a FMCT would be beneficial to both nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Its negotiation would also have a ‘positive impact’ on the upcoming NPT Preparatory Committee, the EU added. 

Many countries also noted the importance of early entry into force of the CTBT as a step forwards for disarmament and towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Japan, Egypt, Pakistan and Syria expressed concern about the prominent role of nuclear weapons in security doctrines, and Japancalled for a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security doctrines. 

In a statement delivered by Ambassador Christina Rocca, the US addressed its security doctrine and nuclear policy and their relationship to nuclear disarmament. The US outlined the new (2002) strategic triad, which includes nuclear weapons but no longer exclusively relies on them. According to the US, by increasing information, options and decision-making time, this new triad will raise the decision threshold for use of nuclear weapons and permit greater reductions in nuclear weapons stocks. The statement characterized the US nuclear umbrella as a tool to prevent nuclear proliferation, explaining that “continuation of the U.S. nuclear umbrella is necessary under current circumstances in order to help lay the foundation for further progress in disarmament.” “Nuclear weapons continue to have relevance in today’s world, but that relevance is clearly not incompatible with the NPT,” the US concluded.

Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle East
Syria and Egypt both cited the importance of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free-zone in the Middle East as mandated by the consensus Middle East Resolution from the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference. Israel is the only state in the region who is not party to the NPT, and Syria reminded the CD that Arab states not party to the NPT acceded to it between the 1995 and 2000 NPT Review Conferences. Both Syria and Egypt held Israel responsible for the failure to create a nuclear-free Middle East. Syria stated that, "Recently, the Israeli Prime Minister admitted that Israel possesses nuclear weapons," referring to remarks made by Prime Minister Olmert in December 2006 during an interview in Germany. Syria called on CD member states to stop supplying Israel with nuclear technology and to pressure Israel to join the NPT and allow the IAEA access to all its facilities. If Israel refuses to comply, Syria recommended the international community impose sanctions. 

North Korean Nuclear Test
Japan again condemned the October North Korean nuclear tests, and North Korea again responded that its nuclear weapons were not intended to threaten neighbor countries, including Japan, but are a deterrent against nuclear countries who continually threaten to launch preemptive attacks against North Korea.

NGO Participation
As NGOs wait to see if they will be heard as well as seen in 2007 by reading their own statement on International Women's Day, Syriavoiced support for NGO participation in the CD saying, “The NGOs, active in the field of disarmament, should be able to address the CD directly. As a first step, we look forward to honoring the consensus reached in the 2006 session about allowing an NGOs representative to address the CD directly on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.” We have yet to hear any delegation speak in opposition to the NGOs reading their own statement on International Women's Day.

Continued work of the Conference
President Mtshali announced that Dr. Kim Howells, UK Foreign Office Minister in charge of disarmament and arms control, will participate in a CD plenary meeting on February 22 at 10am.

The first informal meeting on Agenda Item 1 will be held in the afternoon on February 6, under the chair of Ambassador Wegger Strømmen of Norway. The CD will hold informal meetings on Agenda Items 1 and 2 this week. 

The next public plenary meeting will be on Tuesday, February 13, at 10am.

-Yuki Otsuji and Katherine Harrison, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

1 February
As members of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) prepare to participate in seven sessions per week, the final session before beginning the issue-based discussions within the agreed Organizational Framework was understandably brief. On Thursday, February 1,Switzerland made the single general statement. The CD decided to admit Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines and Zambia as observers before adjourning. 

Switzerland emphasized the growing importance of space security, and, presumably referring to China's recent anti-satellite test, noted that "the first test in more than 20 years of an anti-satellite weapon is an outstanding event, it is by no means the only cause for concern." Switzerland insisted that the CD develop approaches to strengthen the security of space and address concerns about the vulnerability of space systems at more depth within the framework of a structured and substantive dialogue this year.

Switzerland posited that a Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) is the only issue ripe for negotiation in the CD, and recommended "a pragmatic approach to the critical aspects of an FMCT, including concerns about the verification procedures of such a treaty," as the only path towards a consensus. Switzerland called on the Conference to begin negotiations on an FMCT "without preconditions", meaning they are prepared to drop verification from the negotiating mandate because the US opposes including it, with the understanding it could be brought up in negotiations. 

As the CD moves into discussions that will be primarily nuclear-focused, Switzerland underscored the priority its government attaches to disarming conventional weapons. It reiterated the Swiss position on submunitions (cluster munitions) expressed at the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in November 2006. There, Switzerland called for the negotiation of a legally binding instrument with rules regulating and limiting the use of submunitions. In his statement to the CD, Ambassador Streuli discussed the efforts made at the CCW to pursue a new international agreement aiming to ameliorate the effects of cluster munitions. At the CCW, Norway announced that it intends to launch the negotiation of a freestanding treaty to ban cluster munitions. A preparatory conference, the Civil Society Forum on Cluster Munitions, will be held in Oslo, February 22-34, 2007. The aim of the conference is to create a platform to further work towards a convention or an agreement banning the use of cluster munitions. 

Switzerland also reminded the CD of its Geneva Summit on Armed Violence and Development, which produced a Declaration on Armed Violence and Development. They are coordinating with other states to develop a plan of action to follow up on the Declaration, and will review progress in 2008.

The next public plenary meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 6, at 10am. 

-Yuki Otsuji and Katherine Harrison, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom