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Discussions continue on nuclear disarmament

Beatrice Fihn | Reaching Critical Will

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) met on Thursday morning to discuss agenda items 1 and 2, with a particular focus on nuclear disarmament. Statements were made by the delegations of Chile, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Belgium, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, the United Kingdom (UK), Algeria, the United States (US), Japan, and the Russian Federation.

Highlights

  • CD president Oyarce from Chile invited delegations to make detailed comments on measures for nuclear disarmament and asked member states to give their views on either a complete programme of nuclear disarmament such as a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC), or a step-by-step approach.
  • The delegations of DPRK, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, and Algeria stated that nuclear disarmament is their main priority and called for the CD to establish an ad hoc committee on this topic.
  • Ambassador Kennedy of the US argued that progress on nuclear disarmament takes time and highlighted that the US administration plans to address deployed and non-deployed, strategic and non-strategic nuclear weapons within a year.
  • While emphasizing that the US supports the step-by-step approach “rigorously”, Ambassador Kennedy announced that she was interested to hear discussions of a NWC, how would it be verified, and how would it deal with compliance.

Discussing nuclear disarmament
CD president Ambassador Oyarce from Chile invited delegations to make detailed comments on measures for nuclear disarmament. He emphasized that the previous thematic debate on this topic on 1 February heard general statements on this topic, but that today’s plenary would be an opportunity to put forward concrete ideas on how to move forward. Ambassador Oyarce posed a series of questions for delegations, asking them for their opinions on a NWC, potential schedule and mandates for an ad hoc group, potential negotiations of the restriction of use, as well as on dealerting, moratoriums, or delegitimization of nuclear weapons.

However, CD members did not seem to respond to his calls. The delegations of DPRK, Pakistan, Iran, and Syria stated that nuclear disarmament is their main priority in the CD and called for the establishment of an ad hoc committee on this topic. The representative of the DPRK argued that nuclear weapons states should immediately stop the improvement and development of nuclear weapon systems and adopt a comprehensive programme with an agreed time frame for the reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery. He also called for nuclear weapon states to give up nuclear doctrines based on first-use of nuclear weapons, pledge not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and respond to the call for negotiations to conclude a relevant international convention. Mr. Ali Khan of Pakistan argued that the lack of progress on nuclear disarmament from the nuclear weapon states is “inexplicable and unacceptable” and stated that the international community will not be satisfied with “periodic reports of glacious progress” or an “illusive” step-by-step approach. He stated that there can be no progress as long as nuclear weapon states refused to negotiate on their existing stockpiles of fissile material.

The Syrian delegation argued that violations of their obligations by some nuclear weapons states requires  the CD to consider things calmly to develop a new roadmap and solid framework for its work. Ambassador Harmoui wants delegations to go more into details about an ad hoc committee and how it might operate in future meetings of the CD. The Iranian representative voiced his concerns about modernization programmes, vertical proliferation, and the transfer and deployment of nuclear weapons to non-nuclear weapons states.Dr. Daryaei argued that there is an urgent need for negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified time limit, including a NWC. Mr. Khelif argued that the CD should work to find practical measures including a time table for the final elimination of nuclear weapons and believes that CD/1864 is an excellent point of departure. Ambassador Suda of Japan agreed that CD/1864 and CD/1889 should be pursued in order to start work on nuclear disarmament. However, the Japanese ambassador does not believe that such goal would be reached through a single convention, but instead requires numerous concrete and practical steps such as a fissile materials cut-off treaty (FMCT).

Replies from the nuclear weapon states
Ms. Adamson of the UK drew attention to the 22 actions of the 2010 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Action Plan that deals with nuclear disarmament, which “the nuclear weapon states did not block.” She argued that these actions constitute the menu for nuclear disarmament for the next years ahead. Ms. Adamson stated that the UK delegation also had not blocked CD/1864 nor CD/1889 and that it was ready to proceed on all four core issues. The US delegation, through Ambassador Kennedy, also stated that it was ready to start work in the CD. While noting proposals for a NWC and timetables for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, she argued that the US believes rigorously in a series of mutually reinforcing steps instead. While an FMCT is the “obvious” next step in such an approach, Ambassador Kennedy also highlighted the recent conclusion of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and disagreed with the description of it as “glaciour progress”. She pointed out the hard work that was carried out by the negotiators and referred to the lengthy process of ratification through the US Senate. Ambassador Kennedy also took the opportunity to draw attention to US President Obama’s announcement of plans to address deployed and non-deployed, strategic and non-strategic nuclear weapons within a year in a new round of negotiations. While still emphasizing the step-by-step approach, Ambassador Kennedy announced that her delegation is still interested in hearing ideas about a NWC, for example on how it would be verified and how it would deal with compliance. Also the Russian representative, Mr. Novokhatsky believed that Russia has carried out its nuclear disarmament obligations in good faith and highlighted the New START agreement and the 2010 NPT Review Conference as evidence of such measures.

Notes from the gallery
While all delegations that spoke announced that they were ready to discuss nuclear disarmament, no one actually took the opportunity to discuss any measures towards nuclear disarmament. The Chilean ambassador posed some concrete questions that could have been the basis for a substantive discussion on topics such as a NWC, delegitimization, dealerting, no-first use, and other measures relating to the process of nuclear disarmament. However, CD delegations failed to make use of this opportunity and instead seem to prefer to wait for an ad hoc committee to inspire thoughts and discussions on how to move forward.

It is constantly repeated that nuclear disarmament is the top priority for most delegations and that the CD is the only standing body where this is supposed to be negotiated. But it is surprising to see that no country took the opportunity to move beyond general statements and engage in detailed discussions. The mandate for the ad hoc group on nuclear disarmament contained in CD/1864 andCD/1889 simply sets up a working group under agenda item 1 to “exchange views and information on practical steps for progressive and systematic efforts to reduce nuclear weapons with the ultimate goal of their elimination, including on approaches toward potential future work of multilateral character.” No delegation has opposed such a working group, as the problem with a programme of work currently lies with the establishment of the working group on FMCT. There should therefore not be any reason why all delegations that prioritize nuclear disarmament cannot “exchange views and information on practical steps” in plenary meetings and thereby at least making progress on this core issue while others remain deadlocked.

If the CD delegations are serious about pursuing substantive discussions in the absence of a programme of work, they must actively make an effort to move the debate forward. Thematic debates on the core issues have taken place each year since 2006, and this year such discussions must move beyond generic statements and national positions in order to be of use. All CD members, especially the non-nuclear weapon states, should take more advantage of existing meetings devoted to nuclear disarmament, rather than spend another year waiting for “political will” to emerge.

High-level speakers next week
Due to the high-level segment of the Human Rights Council, the CD will receive the President of the 2011 General Assembly, the Foreign Minister of Austria, and the Vice-Minister of Bulgaria on Monday, 28 February at 11:00 am in the Council Chamber. On Monday, 28 February at 3:00 pm, the deputy Foreign Minister of Mexico will address the CD. The CD will hold both a morning and an afternoon meeting on Tuesday, 1 March as well, where a long list of dignitaries will address the Conference. On Thursday, 3 March, the CD will continue its debate on agenda item 1 and 2, with a general focus on an FMCT.