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Remarks by
It is an honor and privilege for me to extend a warm welcome to all of you. I am gratified to see representatives of so many member states participating in the first substantive session of this Working Group for the SSOD IV. Such a response reflects the importance that we attach to this issue and augurs well for our endeavors. General Assembly Resolution 57/61, in its operative paragraphs has mandated us “to work on the basis of consensus in considering the objectives and agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee for fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament” and “to submit a report on our work, including possible substantive recommendations, before the end of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly”. As a guide to our work and in facilitating our endeavors, the aforementioned Resolution has drawn our attention to the following documents: First, the Paper presented by the Chairman of Working Group II on during the 1999 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission which has identified a number of salient elements with regard to both the objectives and agenda for the SSOD-IV. As regards objectives, the Paper has, among others, identified the“setting of principles, guidelines and priorities for future disarmament efforts” as well as “establishing an agreed program of action …that would primarily strengthen the central role of the United Nations and promote multilateralism in the field of disarmament”. With regard to agenda, it has, inter alia, identified nuclear and related issues, conventional weapons issues as well as the goal of general and complete disarmament Second, the reports of the Secretary-General
containing the views of member states on pertinent aspects of SSOD
IV that can make substantive contributions in clarifying the issues
involved. The Final Document adopted by consensus at the conclusion of SSOD I, whose twenty-fifth anniversary we are commemorating this year, includes the Declaration, Program of Action and Machinery for Disarmament and begins with these words: “Attainment of the objective of security, which is an inseparable element of peace, has always been one of the most profound aspirations of humanity”. The concept of security through disarmament envisioned therein provides the philosophical basis for our action. The outcome of SSOD II in 1982 has led many to adopt a pessimistic attitude concerning the future of arms limitation. The international community also reacted with dismay and disappointment at the failure of SSOD III in 1988 to promote the cause of disarmament. And notwithstanding the progress made in limiting and eliminating certain categories of armaments, the promise of significant breakthroughs offered by the post-Cold War era has remained largely unfulfilled. The cumulative effect of these negative developments has been a continuation of the arms race. Plans for new generation of weapons are in place. There is a universal recognition that the use of weapons of mass destruction would lead to the annihilation of humanity. We also face the distinct danger that terrorists will acquire these weapons with potentially calamitous consequences. Concurrently, efforts to amass conventional weapons continue unabated in many parts of the world. Given the current stage of technological developments, even their use can result in immense devastation. The arms race has also put an unbearable economic burden on the whole world. This has been corroborated by detailed studies published by the United Nations. It has become self-evident that no country or group of countries can afford to tackle the mounting socio-economic problems and the resulting non-military challenges while financing an ever costlier accumulation of armaments. Distinguished Delegates, Against this somber backdrop, we have a solemn responsibility to fulfill the mandate entrusted to us by the General Assembly. In formulating substantive recommendations, we can build not only on the experiences of the past, existing disarmament agreements and the global norms that have served us so well but also consider several new issues that are not yet fully covered in treaties. We have a comprehensive set of proposals by the Non-Aligned Movement, the European Union and others. Bringing together all these ideas, concepts and approaches will not be an easy task but I am sure given utmost flexibility, member states will succeed in coming to grips with them. Not too long ago, the Secretary-General warned us of an accumulation of rust in multilateral disarmament machinery and the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters of a “crisis in multilateral disarmament diplomacy”. The General Assembly adopted Resolutions 56/24T and 57/63 during its fifty-sixth and fifty-seventh sessions underscoring the need to promote multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. Strengthening the role of the United Nations on these issues is a collective responsibility. It offers the basis for developing and giving substance to a comprehensive disarmament process at all levels. What is imperative is to make use of that mechanism. We are assembled here because of our belief in collective action through the United Nations and also because there is much at stake for multilateral arms control. These efforts must continue; indeed, they must be stepped up. Our meetings reflect the determination to uphold the credibility of the United Nations in the field of disarmament. The substantive sessions of this Working Group provide each member state with an opportunity to make contributions to our common task and also share responsibilities for the destiny of humanity. I remain confident that we will have a productive, business-like and non-confrontational exchange of views on relevant disarmament issues. This will facilitate our quest for ways and means of ensuring common security based on a balance of interests between all groups of states. Thus, we will work on the basis of general agreement, in other words, consensus. It is important to note that Resolution
57/61 was adopted by the General Assembly without a vote. I hope
that this fact would allow us to reach the desired consensus on
the objectives and agenda of SSOD IV including the possible establishment
of the Preparatory Committee which I expect will be established
to prepare for the Session. Hence, our aim should be to confine
our work to the terms of the Resolution and to agree on the broad
parameters and issues that comprise the broad lines of objectives
and agenda and leave to the preparatory committee to work out the
details. At that stage, we can anticipate a thorough and comprehensive
discussion of all issues in the field of disarmament. I trust that our meetings scheduled for this month as well as in May and June will become a forum for constructive and action-oriented efforts in laying a solid foundation to curb the arms race, to look for common ground among our positions and to adopt bold, innovative and generally acceptable recommendations. The task entrusted to us is complex but with your invaluable assistance, a spirit of cooperation and compromise, I hope that we will achieve our goals. With these introductory remarks,
let us begin with constructive spirit the first substantive session
of the Open-Ended Working Group for the SSOD-IV.
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