10 August 2006

At the 10 August plenary meeting, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) discussed a comprehensive programme of disarmament, item 6 on its agenda, after concluding its discussion from last week on Negative Security Assurances (NSAs). Argentina and Venezuela started the plenary meeting with statements about NSAs and then China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Senegal and the Russian Federationmade statements on a comprehensive programme of disarmament. After five years at the CD, Ambassador Mary Whelan of Ireland gave her final address and continued the recent trend of using it to call for CD reform or restructuring.

Comprehensive programme of disarmament and an Arms Trade Treaty
Although a comprehensive programme of disarmament has been on the CD agenda since 1980, there is no agreement on its meaning, and governments have over the years debated if it should be part of the agenda at all.

Russia suggested the CD use the framework of item 6 to develop "an agenda within the agenda" and listed three issues Russia is interested in pursuing therein: banning the transfer of the most dangerous anti-personnel mines, strengthening the weapons of mass destruction non-proliferation regime, and ensuring international information security.

China said a comprehensive programme of disarmament would set out disarmament principles, objectives and direction, with a goal of adopting fair and just disarmament principles and effective disarmament measures. In listing principles for disarmament, China emphasized abiding by the UN Charter and international law several times, notably in response to non-proliferation issues, and suggested establishing a new security concept featuring mutual trusts, mutual benefit, equality and coordination.

China also called for an international legal instrument on the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, pointing out that the countries possessing the largest nuclear arsenals bear special and primary responsibilities for nuclear disarmament. They should earnestly comply with the treaties already concluded on the reduction of nuclear weapons and further reduce their nuclear arsenals in a verifiable and irreversible manner.

Senegal addressed nuclear and conventional issues in its statement. It recommended the CD re-examine the 1996 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) proposal for the total elimination of all nuclear weapons by 2020. However, Senegal pointed out that conventional weapons, such as small arms and light weapons, are used in the majority of the world?s conflicts. Senegal prioritizes the issue, particularly since the "mixed results" of the Small Arms and Light Weapons Review Conference in New York in July 2006.

The United Kingdom and Canada discussed an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) under item 6. The United Kingdom spoke on behalf of the 7 co-authors of the First Committee draft resolution on an ATT (Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Japan, Kenya and the United Kingdom). There is no comprehensive international legally binding instrument to provide an agreed regulatory framework for trade in conventional weapons. The United Kingdom proposed the First Committee of the UN General Assembly establish a Group of Experts, followed by a period of wider consultation.

Canada supported a comprehensive legally binding Arms Trade Treaty that prevents the illicit flow of weapons to conflict areas. Ambassador Meyer said an ATT could provide important international and human security benefits, notably by curtailing the irresponsible trade in all types of conventional arms. According to Canada, an ATT would cover a wide variety of weapons, including small arms and light weapons, man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) and heavier conventional systems. Canada is open as to the appropriate forum for negotiation, so long as it is conducive to achieving a global Arms Trade Treaty.

CD deadlock and a Programme of Work
Ambassador Mary Whelan, who is leaving Geneva after five years, continued the tradition of discussing the CD stalemate in her finalstatement today. "In most areas of governmental activity or international relations, a body without any achievement for a decade would face fundamental questions about its future," said Ambassador Whelan. She questioned if reform or even a different type of organisation would be more effective: "The anachronistic procedures, including the monthly rotation of the chair, the CD's relationship to other entities and to civil society, the large meaningless group structure - a relic of the Cold War - all suggest that this body may be losing its relevance having already lost its effectiveness." Ambassador Whelan has been a champion of engaging with civil society, and though we wish her the best, she will be missed.

China reiterated its position that the CD should start substantial work with a programme of work on the four core issues: Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS), Negative Security Assurances (NSAs), Nuclear Disarmament, and a Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).

In addition to using the flexibility of the comprehensive program of disarmament agenda item to establish an "agenda within an agenda",Russia suggested appointing a Special Coordinator to help the CD address new issues under agenda item 6. "Later, in the case of consensus, we could give such elaborated issues a status of separate items on the CD Agenda," said Anton Vasiliev. Russia reminded the conference that the Five Ambassadors' programme of work would establish a Special Coordinator to deal with the comprehensive program of disarmament, and reiterated its willingness to not object to the proposal.

Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Secretary General of the CD, suggested the Presidents of the CD consider rescheduling the Third Session of the CD, which is traditionally held in August, because many diplomats travel during August. Ambassador Trezza of Italy asked the Presidents to also consider that delegations need time to prepare for and attend the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October.

Negative Security Assurances
Argentina, on behalf of the Latin American member states of the CD, and Venezuela both made statements on last week's topic, Negative Security Assurances. Argentina lauded the Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (NWFZ) of Latin America and the Caribbean as an important guarantee of security. There are no nuclear weapons in this zone and no states with ambitions to posses such weapons, exhibiting NWFZs' significant contribution to the future. Argentina also condemned the use of nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks as inconsistent with international law and the UN Charter's rule on proportionality in defence.

Although NWFZs protect many countries from the threat of nuclear weapons, Venezuela said the CD should still negotiate an internationally binding treaty on NSAs in accordance with the Five Ambassadors' proposal for a programme of work.

China once again called upon the other nuclear weapon states to commit themselves to no first use of nuclear weapons and to unconditionally not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states or nuclear weapon free zones.

The next plenary meeting will be held on Tuesday 15 August, and will be devoted to general debate.

Jennifer Nordstrom, Reaching Critical Will 
Beatrice Fihn, Disarmament Intern 

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom