Collective security as national security
The new president of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), Ambassador Strohal of Austria, opened the plenary saying he is convinced that progress is still possible, if the Conference proceeds with making those decisions that are absolutely necessary very swiftly. He noted that given the very extensive consultations undertaken by Ambassador Millar of the Australian presidency make it difficult to imagine that unsurmountable obstacles still exist. Yesterday, the Pakistani’s delegation official position on the implementation framework, CD/1870/Rev.1, was released as an official CD document. Delegates from Chile, Canada, Italy, and France also discussed the ongoing stalemate, while those from Kazakhstan and Algeria spoke about nuclear weapon free zones and the Russian delegateaddressed outer space security.
Brief highlights
- In its official position on CD/1870/Rev.1, the Pakistani delegation emphasizes the importance of equal treatment of the four core issues and of the “principle” of undiminished, equitable security for all member states.
- Representatives from the Chilean, Canadian, Italian, and French delegation responded to this position, arguing in favour of undiminished collective security and making suggestions for continuing the work of the CD.
- The Kazakh government called for UN to declare 29 August the “International Day of Nuclear Weapons Renunciation”.
- The Algerian delegation called on all nuclear weapon states to accede to the protocols of the Pelindaba Treaty and for all state signatories to ratify the Treaty.
- The Russian delegation introduced two new documents on outer space security for consideration by the CD.
Pakistan’s position
The CD circulated the Pakistani delegation’s official position on CD/1870/Rev.1 in an official document on 24 August. The letter is a reprinted version of CD/1870/Rev.1, written the way the Pakistani government would like it to be written. The differences are as follows:
In the chapeau:
The second line reads, “Without prejudice to the Conference’s decisions on programmes of work to be adopted annually in accordance with the Rules of Procedure (Article VIII);” as opposed to CD/1870/Rev.1’s “Without prejudice to the Conference’s decisions on programmes of work to be adopted for future calendar years;”
Point “b” notes that the rotation and equitable geographic representative is based on a “principle”;
There is an additional point: “principle of equal and balanced allocation of time for four core issues;” and
Whereas CD/1870/Rev.1 says, “the Conference will aim at ensuring a general balance in the consideration of all agenda items consistent with CD/1864;” Pakistan’s version says, “the Conference will ensure, without any discrimination, equal treatment and priority to all agenda items of the Conference, particularly the four core issues to achieve balanced progress in terms of substantive outcomes consistent with the principle of equal and undiminished security for all states.”
None of the appointments for working group chairs or special coordinators have been adjusted.
In the schedule of activities:
The dates read from 10 to 28 August rather than from 10 August to 18 September; and
The schedule of activities from 28 August on has been deleted. (Reportedly based on the argument that the consideration of the CD’s annual report is not part of the programme of work and therefore should not be included in this document.)
In the accompanying presidential statement:
The original language indicated that the schedule of activities reflects the importance of “each of the four core issues and of items 5, 6, and 7 on our programme of work,” while Pakistan’s version says it reflects the importance of “agenda items of the Conference, particularly the four core issues;” and
Rather than stating that the CD “recognises the importance of national security issues for all member states,” Pakistan’s version says it “recognises the principle of equal and undiminished security interests and security compulsions of all member states.”
National security interests and the framework for implementation
Addressing the concerns of the Pakistani government—in particular its concern with ensuring “the principle of equal and undiminished security interests and security compulsions of all member states,” Ambassador Carlos Portales of Chile argued that national security “does not exist in isolation and cannot be invoked to undermine or affect that of others.” He asked, “what better way to preserve this national security than by making this negotiating body move forward through the rule of consensus?”
Italy’s Ambassador Manfredi argued
this is not a proper use of the consensus rule that we all agree is the keystone of the Conference’s procedural work. It allows every member to avail itself of an indispensable tool, to safeguard its paramount national interest. But here now we are not faced with paramount national interests. When all is said and done, whatever adjectives we use to define our national security interests or whatever formula we use in the documents spelling out the calendar of meetings of the CD, the results of our work will be determined only in the negotiations of substance.
The representative of the Canadian delegation noted that the programme of work itself was a compromise, consensus decision. He argued that CD/1864 did not characterize how much progress should be achieved, or how the outcomes among the four core issues should be balanced, because “progress and outcomes on different issues are by their very nature, unpredictable.” He also insisted that the framework for implementation should “not seek to tie our hands to any specific outcomes.”
Furthermore, Mr. Gartshore from Canada pointed out that in adopting CD/1864, the CD “opted not to use the word ‘principle’ anywhere in the text,” because “matters of ‘principle’ and their possible interpretations may be different among the many delegations that sit in this chamber.” Giving a demonstration, Ambassador Portales explained that Chile’s commitment to disarmament is “based on the guiding principles of the indivisibility of international security and the prevalence of collective security over and above the individual requirements of states.”
Relevance of the CD
Noting that the CD, the “unique forum” for multilateral disarmament negotiations, hasn’t negotiated anything in twelve years, Chile’s Ambassador Portales argued that is unacceptable for the Conference to “keep a highly qualified diplomatic body, a high level technical secretariat and a team of specialised high interpreters to remain unproductive.” He also questioned, if the CD continues to be unable to operate, will it not open up “an area for other initiatives to emerge in which this rule will not be in accordance with this conference?”Ambassador Manfredi of Italy also argued that this situation is “demeaning to the prestige of the Conference and is in fact jeopardizing its very existence. It is undermining its relevance within the community of multilateral institutions.”
Ambassador Eric Danon of France agreed with the Chilean and Italian ambassadors, noting the “risks” of negotiating treaties outside of the CD. He pointed out the importance of the political dimension behind CD/1864, that all five recognized nuclear weapon states had agreed to negotiate a verifiable treaty related to nuclear weapons, and that at least one of these five, the French delegation, wants this to be negotiated within the CD.
Suggestions for moving forward
Ambassador Portales said his delegation has not given up its optimism. He suggested that the intersessional committee, led by Ambassador Strohal for the rest of 2009, could provide a good opportunity for working out delegation’s concerns before the start of next year’s session. He also welcomed suggestions of other alternatives for moving forward. Mr. Gartshore of Canada suggested limiting the CD’s deliberations on its report to two weeks rather than three to give the Conference more time for substantive work during this session.
Towards a nuclear weapon free world
The new ambassador of Kazakhstan, Ambassador Mukhtar Tileuberdi, outlined his government’s commitment to a nuclear weapon free world. He pointed out that his country, which at one time had the fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the world, renounced the weapons unilaterally. The president of Kazakhstan recently called on the UN to declare 29 August—the day when the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site was finally closed—as the “International Day of Nuclear Weapons Renunciation”.
Algeria’s representative welcomed the entry into force of the Pelindaba Treaty, which makes of Africa a nuclear weapon free zone. He noted, “the African continent is thereby reflecting its active commitment to the global combat in order to preserve humanity from the specter of nuclear war, and creating a world which is free of weapons of mass destruction.” He called upon all nuclear weapon states to accede to the protocols prohibiting the use of nuclear weapons against any territory within the zone. French Ambassador Danon said his government is “very pleased with the events surrounding Pelindaba” and is “pleased to see the implementation of this Treaty.”
Outer space security
Ambassador Valery Loschinin of the Russian Federation announced that the Russian and Chinese delegations have prepared an information document for the CD called “Basic issues and comments on the draft agreement to prevent the placement of weapons in space, or the use of force or threat of force against objects in space.” The publication is based on presentations that delegations made last year during unofficial thematic discussions and open-ended meetings of the CD and from the International Conference on Security and Space.
He also announced that the Russian delegation has provided “a renewed report of the report of the United Nations Secretary-General on measures to ensure transparency and strengthening of confidence in outer space activities, prepared on the basis of the resolution 63/68of the General Assembly.” The Russian and Chinese delegations urged the CD members to send in their proposals on the issue of confidence-building measures in outer space at the beginning of the General Assembly this year. Ambassador Loschinin also argued that these documents “will provide a good starting basis” for discussions in working group three at the CD when it begins substantive work.
Ambassador Danon of France said he has looked carefully at the documents submitted by Russia and China emphasized that the “issue of space is of paramount importance to us and will be so in the forthcoming weeks and months, apart from nuclear problems.”
Upcoming schedule
The next plenary meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 27 August at 10:00 AM. On Wednesday, 2 September, the Austrian Foreign Minister will address the CD.
Notes from the gallery
WILPF welcomes the forward-thinking suggestions that several delegations made during today’s plenary meeting, including the Chilean ambassador’s suggestion of continued consultations during the intersessional period. As the CD will have to adopt not only a procedural document next year but also a programme of work once again, it is vital that delegates come together during the intervening months to find lasting solutions.
Perhaps the statement from the new ambassador of Kazakhstan can provide some inspiration toward progress in this important negotiating forum. Kazakhstan renounced nuclear weapons and is undertaking a rehabilitation project at Semipalatinsk, the former testing grounds. A documentary called Silent Bombs: All for the Motherland—based on the book The Epicentre of Peace by Nursultan Nazarbayev, the president of Kazakhstan—looks at the long-term effects of nuclear test explosions on the population of Semipalatinsk. The filmmaker remarked in an interview, “Kazakhstan’s experience reveals that the fallout from nuclear explosions can be suffered by ten generations or more and I hope that those who are blithe about nuclear proliferation will now understand just what it means to allow any nation to test and store nuclear weapons.”
- Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will of WILPF