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Nuclear-weapon-free zones
Working paper submitted by Belarus
1. The present document is a reflection of the national position
of Belarus. It is not the intention of Belarus to reopen debate
on its initiative to establish a nuclear-weapon-free space in Central
and Eastern Europe but rather to demonstrate its vision of advancing
to a nuclear-weapon-free world.
2. Belarus is convinced that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free
space in Central and Eastern Europe would make an important contribution
to the strengthening of an international nuclear non-proliferation
regime and to global efforts aimed at achieving the ultimate objectives
of eliminating nuclear weapons and, more broadly speaking, of general
and complete nuclear disarmament under strict and effective international
control.
3. Belarus totally supports the objectives, purposes and principles
of the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of
arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned.
Belarus will be guided in its activities by the recommendations
contained in the 1999 text entitled "Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free
zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States
of the region concerned",1 which was adopted by consensus.
The position of Belarus fully corresponds to the principles of that
important text and could be described as follows:
(a) Belarus is a regional State and therefore has the right to
propose the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free space in its
region (para. 42 of the above document);
(b) This initiative should be pursued by all the States of that
region (para. 21);
(c) Belarus hopes that broad consultations on the objective of
the establishment of a regional nuclear-weapon-free space could
be arranged among the States of the region (para. 43);
(d) Belarus fully supports the principle that all of the States
of the region concerned should participate in the negotiations on
and the establishment of such a zone on the basis of the arrangements
freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned (para.
23).
4. Belarus believes that the necessary prerequisites exist which
could facilitate the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free space
in Central and Eastern Europe, including the de facto absence of
nuclear weapons from the region, strict compliance by all of the
States of the region with the obligations of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty and strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation regime
in the region, by concluding additional protocols with the International
Atomic Energy Agency, and others.
5. Belarus does not intend to suggest in the present document specific
means and ways of creating such a space, because it is convinced
of the necessity, first, to achieve, through broad consultations,
consensus on the objective of a nuclear-weapon-free space in Central
and Eastern Europe among the States of the region.
6. Belarus hopes that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free
space in Central and Eastern Europe will significantly contribute
to regional and global peace and security and invites the States
of the region, nuclear-weapon States and other interested parties
to open a broad dialogue on its initiative, which could be considered
a starting point in promoting a nuclear-weapon-free and safe world.
Notes
1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session,
Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I.
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