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Militaristic and humanistic conceptions of security

During the sixth plenary of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), representatives from the Group of 21, the European Union, Brazil,Pakistan, Costa Rica, Austria, and Venezuela delivered statements on nuclear disarmament, outer space security, nuclear energy, and the work of the CD.

Brief highlights

  • The Group of 21 reaffirmed its readiness to start negotiations on a phased programme for the elimination of nuclear weapons within a timebound framework, including a nuclear weapons convention.
  • The Group of 21 also called for: nuclear weapon states' reaffirmation of their unequivocal commitment to eliminate nuclear weapons; elimination of the role for nuclear weapons in security doctrines; decreasing operational readiness of nuclear weapon systems; legally-binding negative security assurances; universal adherence to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; a convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons; a convention on stockpiling nuclear weapons; implementation of the resolution on the Middle East from the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference; and fulfillment of Article VI of the NPT.
  • The European Union emphasized "an arms race in outer space must be prevented" and announced that the Council of Europe approved a draft text of a Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities.
  • Brazil eloquently argued that the obstacles the CD faces "are not of an institutional nature" and emphasized the importance of agreeing to negotiations without preconditions.
  • Pakistan reiterated its willingness to negotiate a fissile materials treaty on the basis of the Shannon Mandate. It also criticized the various nuclear cooperation agreements with India, arguing they have made the issues of verification and stocks "vital for Pakistan in any negotiations negotiations on an FMT."
  • Austria spoke on the importance of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, a verifiable fissile materials cut-off treaty, and multilateralization of the nuclear fuel cycle.

Nuclear disarmament and related steps
On behalf of the Group of 21, Ambassador Idriss Jazaïry of Algeria emphasized the importance and the obligation of nuclear disarmament. He argued that the implications of statements by nuclear weapon state officials and scholars on "visions for a nuclear weapon free world ... need to be further investigated," but expressed hope "that they will lead to new opportunities to make serious progress," including in the CD. Ambassador Jazaïry also acknowledged nuclear weapon state "arms limitation" efforts but also underlined "the importance of effective step-by-step implementation of concrete measures in order to achieve a nuclear weapon free world."

Most interventions highlighted varying conceptions of steps to a nuclear weapon free world, though Brazil's ambassador emphasized that all steps are related. The delegates from the Group of 21, Brazil, and Pakistan outlined the need for negative security assurances, de-alerting, a fissile materials treaty, and others. The European Union reiterated elements from its Statement on Strengthening International Security submitted to the UNGA and the CD as official documents, including negotiating a fissile materials cut-off treaty, universal ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), US-Russian nuclear weapon reductions and a post-START arrangement, attention to tactical nuclear weapons, transparency and confidence-building measures, and a treaty banning short- and intermediate-range ground-to-ground missiles.

The Austrian ambassador expressed hope that the "new US administration's positive attitude towards the CTBT will act as further boost to accelerate" its entry into force. He also noted the importance of negotiating a verifiable fissile materials cut-off treaty and outlined some measures for including existing stocks, such as placing any fissile materials for civil purposes under IAEA control; obliging all states that possess nuclear weapons to "apply the the highest security standards to curb the proliferation risk" and enhance transparency around their military stockpiles.

Disarmament and security
The Group of 21's delegation highlighted the importance of the resolution on the Middle East of the 1995 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review and Extension Conference, especially "in the wake of the recent military escalation in the Gaza Strip." Ambassador Jazaïry noted, global and regional approaches to nuclear disarmament and confidence-building measures "complement each other and should, wherever possible, be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security."

Ambassador Luiz Filipe de Macedo Soares of Brazil argued against the conception of "equal security among states," which he described as being "at the heart of the mutual assured destruction, one of the many sad features of the Cold War." Noting that the "right not to be aggressed or threatened must be assured" to all states, he emphasized, "the sense of insecurity is a fertile soil not only for the reluctance to disarm but also for the ambition to acquire nuclear weapons. The malaise of insecurity can be remedied by weapons in the way that vitamins are supposed to strengthen ones resistance to disease. Taking further that image, nuclear weapons are like anabolic androgenic steroids which are outlawed in the world of sports."

Ambassador Zamir Akram of Pakistan opposed this argument, asserting, "It is an accepted fact that states represented here will only participate in negotiations that will promote and protect their national security. It follows that we must pursue objectives that ensure equal security for all."

Costa Rica's representative, Counsellor Carlos Garbanzo, outlined a different conception of equal security for all when he reminded the Conference that Costa Rica is the only state to achieve the ultimate objective of the CD: total disarmament. He explained that the money the country has saved by not having a military has been used to enhance political and social stability. The problem with the CD, he noted, is that states are approaching disarmament from an armament or military perspective rather than a humanist one and argued that only a comprehensive point of view centered on the humanitarian side will move the Conference forward. He also reminded the Conference that disarmament is not a topic exclusive to those countries that have weapons; it effects any country and any population that might suffer negative effects of use of any weapons. To this end, he called for increased fostering of international initiatives such as the Arms Trade Treaty, Oslo Process on cluster munitions, model Nuclear Weapon Convention, the UN Security Council 1540 Committee, etc. and for a reduction in military expenditures.

Work of the CD
In the Brazilian delegation's view, "The way out of this dilemma involving security and nuclear weapons is to face with determination the moral and political obligation to sit at the negotiating table." Based on "recent informal exchanges," Ambassador Soares said he anticipates that the barriers preventing the effective functioning of the CD are about to be lifted and therefore the Conference must prepare "to engage in meaningful negotiations." The key to this, according to Ambassador Soares, is to "refrain from placing our preferences or intentions regarding this or that aspect of the possible instrument [ie. a fissile materials cut-off treaty] as conditions for accepting the negotiation," because if participants adopt that course, "we can be sure that no negotiation will ever take place."

Emphasizing Brazil's own rejection of the "all or nothing" position, Ambassador Soares noted that while his delegation welcomes reductions in nuclear weapon arsenals, "no one can expect that we celebrate such not so transparent unilateral measures especially in view of the persistence of technical improvements and alertness." However, Pakistan's Ambassador Akram argued that every item on the CD's agenda is equally ripe for negotiation and that "any proposal on the CD's programme of work must maintain this delicate balance."

Acknowledging the "sustained silent toiling" of some non-governmental organizations on issues of disarmament, Costa Rica's counsellor argued for opening the CD to civil society, insisting that international disarmament will have to be a dialogue.

Outer space security
Czech Deputy Representative Ivan Pintir, speaking on behalf of the European Union, highlighted the importance of all past treaties and agreements on outer space security, welcomed the Russian and Chinese draft treaty on preventing the placement of weapons in outer space (though repeated its criticisms of 28 February 2008), and expressed appreciation for discussions on preventing an arms race in outer space in the CD so far.

Ambassador Pintir also announced that on 8 December 2008, the Council of the European Union "approved an initial draft text of the Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities," which the EU has been working on for over a year. The draft text is not intended to be a legally-binding document nor does it seek to replace other initiatives. It's main purpose is to strengthen existing UN treaties and principles on space security and to codify new best practices, including measures of notification and consultation. It does not include "any provision concerning the specific question of non-placement of weapons in outer space," nor does it oppose any initiatives dealing with this issue but rather insists "on the importance to 'take all measures in order to prevent space from becoming an area of conflict'."

The draft code can be downloaded from
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/08/st17/st17175.en08.pdf

Pakistan's Ambassador Akram argued that outer space must not be weaponized or colonized, for this would have "serious ramifications for all military and defence doctrines." Ambassador Christian Strohal of Austria said codes of conduct "significantly contribute to enhancing security of outer space activities or to curbing proliferation risks. He also called on all subscribing states to the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation to respect their obligations and encourage others to subscribe.

Nuclear energy
While welcoming international cooperation around the development of nuclear energy, Pakistan's ambassador criticized the adoption of associated "discriminatory policies or double standards" as "counter-productive and self-defeating". Austrian Ambassador Christian Strohal emphasized the importance of designing a multilateral framework to restrict elements of the nuclear fuel cycle.

Conventional weapons
Pakistan's ambassador also announced that his country ratified Protocol V (explosive remnants of war) of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons on 19 January 2009.

The next plenary meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 17 February 2009. It will be the first under the 2009 presidency of Zimbabwe. The Norwegian Deputy Defence Minister Mr. Bath Eide is scheduled to give a statement.

- Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will of WILPF