Statement by
Mr. Chairman, 1. On behalf of NAM, I would like to first congratulate you on your election for the chairmanship of this important session of the United Nations Disarmament Commission (UNDC). We are confident that under your able stewardship the 2008 session will yield tangible outcomes, that can fulfill the mandate entrusted to the UNDC by the General Assembly. The NAM also extends its felicitation to the other members of the Bureau, and the Chairs of the Working Group on their elections. 2. NAM welcomes the Secretary General and thanks him for his very important remarks. His commitment and efforts in realizing a world that is stable, peaceful, and prosperous for all humanity are most valued by us. The Movement would also like to reaffirm its support to the Secretary General for his noble work in the areas of international disarmament, peace, and security. 3. NAM underscores the importance for all UN Member States to abide by their commitment to the aims and principles of the UN Charter, as well as to the established norms of the international law. Here, the NAM would also like to reiterate its principled positions on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation as contained in the outcomes and documents of the various summits and conferences of NAM on these subjects.
4. It is regrettable that there has been a regression on the internationally agreed agenda of disarmament in the last few years. The UNDC has unfortunately also taken a toll in this respect. While one can identify many reasons to be despondent, our Movement remains optimistic, and will always strive to take constructive steps to promote peace and security in our world. 5. UNDC can be very effective, as seen through the numerous productive sessions, particularly in 1999, when it was able to reach consensus on guidelines for establishing nuclear-weapon-free-zones, and for conventional arms control. The work of UNDC has contributed greatly to the emergence of global norms on disarmament, but the NAM is concerned that since the last session of UNDC in 2003, the Commission has been unable to play its due role. 6. We see the deliberative function of UNDC becoming even more important in these times. The Group remains firmly committed to the Commission’s basic purposes and principles, and reaffirms the centrality of the UNDC as the specialized and deliberative body within the UN multilateral disarmament machinery, providing for an in-depth deliberation on the specific disarmament issues, with submission of concrete recommendations before the General Assembly. 7. NAM wishes the two chairs of the Working Groups
success in chairing the deliberations. We all need to support them
fully in this regard. The Group calls upon UN Member States to display
the necessary political will, and flexibility for achieving agreement
on the recommendations based on the two agenda items of the current
cycle. 9. On the Agenda item 1; “Recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons”, NAM reiterates its principled positions on nuclear disarmament and the related issue of nuclear non-proliferation, that have been fully reflected in the relevant documents adopted by the Summits and Ministerial Meetings of NAM, including at the 14th NAM Summit in Havana on September 2006. The vision and principles of the Final Document of SSOD-I also remain very pertinent here. The Movement highlights the urgency for all members of the Commission to fulfill their obligations in relation to arms control and disarmament, and to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects. 10. NAM underscores that nuclear disarmament constitutes its primary disarmament objective, remaining as its highest priority. In this regard, the Nuclear-Weapon-States (NWS) need to implement the unequivocal undertaking for accomplishing the total elimination of their nuclear weapons. The Group is very concerned at the slow pace of progress, and in some cases, the reversal on nuclear disarmament by the NWS. In this connection, multilateral negotiations should commence without delay. 11. NAM again calls for an international conference, at the earliest possible date, with the objective of attaining an agreement on a phased program for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time to eliminate all nuclear weapons, as well as to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use, and to provide for their destruction. In this context, we would like to recall the resolve of the world leaders at the Millennium Summit, as it is contained in its Declaration. With regards to that Declaration, we would like to highlight the focus on the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and the intent to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways and means of eliminating nuclear dangers. 12. NAM also reiterates its longstanding principled position for the total ban of all nuclear testing and expresses its concern over the lack of progress by the NWS to eliminate their nuclear arsenals and the negative developments on the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). 13. NAM remains of the view that in the efforts aimed at realizing nuclear disarmament, global and regional approaches, and the confidence building measures (CBM) complement each other. Wherever possible, these should be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security. 14. NAM believes that the international community’s efforts on non-proliferation should be in conjunction with concrete efforts on nuclear disarmament. The Movement also believes that the most effective way of preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction is through the total elimination of such weapons. We also underline that the threat posed by terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction should be addressed within the framework of the United Nations, and with international cooperation, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and international law. 15. NAM calls upon all Member States to support international efforts for preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, and their means of delivery. We urge all States to take, and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery, and materials and technologies related to their manufacturing. 16. While noting the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004), and resolution 1673 (2006) by the Security Council, NAM underlines the need for ensuring that any action by the Security Council does not undermine the UN Charter, and the existing multilateral treaties on weapons of mass destruction, the international agreed organizations established in this regard, as well as the all encompassing role of the General Assembly. 17. NAM cautions against the continuing practice of the Security Council to utilize its authority to define the legislative requirements for Member States, in implementing the Council’s decisions. In this regard, NAM stresses that the issue of non-state actors acquiring weapons of mass destruction should be addressed in an inclusive manner by the General Assembly, taking into account the views of all Member States. 18. NAM reiterates that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. We reaffirm our conviction that, pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons, efforts for the conclusion of a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument on security assurances to Non-Nuclear-Weapon States (NNWS) should be pursued as priority. 19. The Group continues to consider the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free-zones (NWFZ) created by the Treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok, Pelindaba, Semipalatinsk and Mongolia’s nuclear weapon free status as positive steps towards attaining the objective of nuclear disarmament. NAM welcomes the efforts aimed at establishing new NWFZ in all regions of the world on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the states of the region concerned, and calls for cooperation and broad consultation for this goal. 20. NAM reaffirms its support for the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, and to this end, it reaffirms the need for the speedy establishment of a NWFZ in the Middle East, in accordance with the Security Council resolution 487 (1981), and the relevant General Assembly resolutions adopted by consensus. NAM States parties to the NPT recall that the 2000 NPT Review Conference had reaffirmed the importance of Israel’s accession to the NPT, and the placement of all its nuclear facilities under the comprehensive IAEA safeguards, for achieving the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East. 21. NAM States parties to the NPT remain fully convinced that the NPT is a key instrument in the efforts to halt vertical and horizontal proliferation of nuclear weapons. NPT is the essential foundation for nuclear disarmament, and the States parties to the NPT should work towards a fair balance between mutual obligations and responsibilities under the Treaty, with a view to achieving the total elimination of nuclear weapons. 22. NAM States parties to the NPT call for the full implementation of, and the firm commitment by all States parties, to the package agreed at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, which comprises the decision on “Strengthening the Review Process for the Treaty”, the decision on “Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament”, the decision on “Extension of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons”, and the “Resolution on the Middle East” as well as the “Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference”, in particular the 13 practical steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to implement Article VI of the Treaty.
25. The NAM also believes that CBMs, especially when applied in a comprehensive manner, can be conducive to achieving structures of security based on cooperation and openness and thus contribute to the wider objective of the renunciation of the threat or use of force. The implementation of the guidelines for appropriate types of confidence-building measures to all States is of significance, taking fully into account the specific political, military and other conditions prevailing in a region. 26. NAM also expresses its firm support for the unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures adopted by some governments aimed at reducing their military expenditures, thereby contributing to the strengthening of regional and international peace and security. 27. NAM notes that while some progress have been achieved in this working group, there remains work to be done. NAM is ready to engage constructively on the deliberations in Working Group 2 based on the revision 5 and urge all states to focus on the remaining issues for their resolution.
28. In conclusion, NAM would like to once again express its readiness and support in working with you, the Bureau, and the Chairs of the Working Group for a successful 2008 UNDC session. We also look forward to working actively and constructively by engaging in a transparent and productive deliberation with all members of the Commission with a view to reaching consensus on substantive recommendations for the two agenda items before us.
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