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High-level debate continues

Beatrice Fihn | Reaching Critical Will

The Conference on Disarmament met twice on Tuesday, 1 March to continue the high-level debate. High-level representatives of theRussian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Moldova, Australia, Slovenia, Thailand, Cuba, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, Romania, Japan, and Albania addressed the CD.

Highlights

  • The foreign minister of Russia stated that placement of weapons in outer space, development of non-nuclear armed strategic offensive weapons, deployment of ballistic missile defense systems, and imbalances of conventional arms must be taken into consideration in discussions on any cuts of tactical nuclear weapons.
  • Most delegations called for negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT).
  • The delegations of Bangladesh, Iran, and Cuba raised concerns about the increasing global military expenditures.
  • Mr. Lavrov of Russia warned that launching parallel negotiations processes could lead to “further degradation of the whole multilateral disarmament system.”
  • The representatives of Thailand, the Republic of Korea, and Slovenia called for concrete progress on the follow-up of the high-level meeting held on 24 September 2010.
  • The foreign minister of Australia announced that his delegation together with Japan plans to host another side event in coming weeks to keep the dialogue flowing on FMCT issues.

New START and further reductions of nuclear arsenals
Many speakers highlighted the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) as a contribution to the so-called “momentum for disarmament”. Mr. Rudd, Australia’s Foreign Minister, reminded delegations of US President Obama’s Prague speech in 2009 and noted that the words had been followed by significant action, such as the New START treaty. Mr. Rudd also warned that there would only be a small window of opportunity to capitalize on “the goodwill” among countries on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation initiatives. However, several speakers asked for further measures from the nuclear weapon states. Dr. Moni of Bangladesh believed that the world’s largest nuclear weapon possessors should be “more forthcoming for a deeper cut of their nuclear arsenals.” Also Mr. Yamahana of Japanhoped that the US and Russia would continue to make further reductions in their nuclear arsenals.

Addressing the question of what would come next, Mr. Lavrov argued that while Russia and the United States still possess the largest nuclear arsenals, the decreases made will lead to a situation “when the thresholds on delivery vehicles become of increased importance”.He argued that in the long run, it is the number of delivery vehicles, their technical characteristics and viability, that will determine the actual deterrence capability. Therefore, Mr. Lavrov believed that it is pressing that all nuclear weapon states became involved in the process of limitation and reduction of their own arsenals.

Mr. Lavrov noted the key principle of “indivisibility of security” and argued that there is a clear need to take into account other factors that “negatively affect strategic stability,” such as placement of weapons in outer space, development of non-nuclear armed strategic offensive weapons, and unilateral deployment of ballistic missile defense systems. He also drew attention to “considerable imbalances” on conventional arms and stated that it was not possible to talk about “global zero” while disregarding all these interrelated factors. Mr. Lavrov further argued that these factors must be taken into consideration in discussions on cuts of tactical nuclear weapons. “Withdrawal of these weapons to the territory of the State to which they belong as well as removal of the infrastructure for their deployment abroad should be regarded as a first step towards the resolution of this problem.”

Multilateral nuclear disarmament
Russian Foreign Minister Mr. Lavrov highlighted the need for implementation of the Action Plan adopted at the 2010 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, and focused on the “principled importance that the Parties to the NPT have asserted their commitment to the enhancement of the verification capabilities of the IAEA and universal application of the Additional Protocol to the Safeguards Agreement.”

Dr. Salehi, Foreign Minister of Iran, argued that the three pillars of the NPT should “not be narrowed down to one pillar,” namely non-proliferation. He emphasized that the NPT does not provide a right for nuclear weapon states to keep their arsenals indefinitely and called for the CD to establish an ad hoc committee to start negotiations on a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC). Dr. Salehi suggested that the convention could be a framework treaty based on the following areas: banning production, development, and use of nuclear weapons; renouncing deterrence values in all security and defense doctrines; prevention of deployment of nuclear weapons; banning the production of fissile material for military purposes; declaring all stocks of weapons grade fissile material and their elimination; declaring all warheads and de-alerting them; and elimination of nuclear warheads in a phased and irreversible manner with a specific timeframe.

Revitalization of the CD
All high-level speakers expressed their support for the CD and wished that it would resume substantive work as soon as possible. Several speakers showed clear frustration with the deadlock. Mr. Yamahana, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, stated that given the heightened expectations of the international community, including those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, “further continuation of the same dysfunctional pattern within this forum is unacceptable.” The State Secretary for Global Affairs of Romania, Mr. Doru Romoulus Costea, warned that the CD might loose its relevance and states could consider other ways and means of negotiating disarmament agreements. In his view, this was “in nobody’s interest”. Mr. Leanca, Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, noted that the CD is already far behind schedule and noted that if the deadlock remains, the only permanent multilateral body for disarmament negotiations might be lost. He reminded delegations that while negotiations can be generated though other measures, and gave the examples of the Oslo and Ottawa processes, he still believed that the CD should remain the central multilateral body with responsibility for negotiating disarmament agreements.

Mr. Kevin Rudd of Australia expressed his frustration with the CD deadlock but stated that Australia would remain active and committed to finding solutions. He drew attention to the side events arranged by the Australian and Japanese delegations on definitions on fissile material, and described it as “modest but pragmatic response” to the call by the UN Secretary-General for new thinking in the CD. Mr. Rudd stated that Australia and Japan plan to host another event in the coming weeks to keep the dialogue flowing on FMCT issues and hoped it would build confidence and momentum for negotiations. Mr. Yamahana of Japan also added that his delegation wished to continue to contribute to future negotiations on FMCT through these technical discussions and noted that the chairpersons of these events would report to the CD on the discussions.

Mr. Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, noted that a lot of ideas to revise the consensus rule had been voiced in New York at the high-level meeting in September 2010, “including some radical ones”. Mr. Lavrov stated that Russia could not support such ideas and argued that no other approach than the rule of consensus would be acceptable in the field of security. He warned that launching parallel negotiation processes could lead to “further degradation of the whole multilateral disarmament system.”

The Vice-Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Min Dong-Seok, noted the efforts made and ideas suggested for revitalizing the CD, such as a target date, flexible application of the consenus rule, and the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. However, Mr. Dong-Seok argued that what is now really needed for the CD process “is not an endless debate, but action.” AlsoMr. Piromya, Foreign Minister of Thailand, encouraged the CD to follow-up from the high-level meeting in terms of concrete actions. Dr. Moni, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, believed that the implementation of recommendations and suggested follow-up actions of the high-level meeting could contribute to bring the CD back to work. Mr. Samuel Zbogar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, was convinced that the high-level meeting came at the right time and argued that it was perhaps the only way forward to end the deadlock at the CD. Mr. Zbogar said he expected the follow-up process to deliver results and that it would be addressed that the next session of the UN General Assembly later this year. The Slovenian foreign minister supported the convening of a Fourth Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD IV) and believed that it would complement the UN Secretary-General’s initiative, as the two processes should pave the way for the same objective:“revitalization of negotiations on disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control.”

Mr. Leanca of Moldova reminded the more powerful states in the CD that smaller states, such as Moldova, had no choice but to rely on building and strengthening a rule-based international system. He expressed his expectations that such a system, with functional and strong institutions, would prevent the uncontrolled expansion of armaments, including in conflict prone regions, and would encourage transparency and concrete disarmament measures.

Progress outside the CD
Mr. Zbogar of Slovenia said that the entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions was the most important event in conventional weapons, and the treaty proved that there was still enough political will to properly address relevant challenges. He encouraged the members of the CD to follow this path. Mr. Gazmend Turdiu, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania and President of the Tenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, noted that it was the twelfth anniversary of the entry into force of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. He highlighted the reasons for getting rid of these weapons: the indiscriminate and long-lasting nature makes civilians more likely victims rather than soldiers and combatants; and that the military utility of landmines is “marginal at best”. Mr. Turdiu argued that because traditional disarmament and arms control areas proved to be inadequate to deal with the concerns related to landmines, the Ottawa process was developed and the treaty banning anti-personnel mines was created. He hoped that states could see the treaty as a case study of “multilateralism working the way it should” and suggested that the CD could study this case as an example of how to produce real results.

Military spending
Dr. Moni of Bangladesh argued that the world needs to spend less on armament and divert the resources to development, “especially when the amounts needed to achieve MDGs are only a fraction of current global military spendings.” She highlighted that only 3 to 4% of annual global military spending over the next five years would enable the world to achieve the MDGs. Also the Iranian Foreign Ministerquestioned the growth of military expenditures during the last decade and argued that if such a trend continued, the world could become more dangerous. Mr. Bruno Rodriguez Parilla, Foreign Minister of Cuba, also noted that military spending had increased 49% during the last decade and he reminded delegations that with this money, extreme poverty and hunger could have been combated, diseases could have been prevented, and millions of illiterate adults could have been taught how to read and write. Mr. Rodriguez Parilla believed that the CD could make an important contribution by changing the current situation that only benefits the powerful. The Cuban minister called upon CD delegations to work for a new world order, built on justice and human solidarity rather than nuclear weapons and the use or threat of use of force. 

Notes from the gallery
After hearing 18 high-level speakers addressing the CD this week, it’s worth noting that only two were women. Women are still largely absent from the scientific and political decision-making about nuclear weapons and disarmament negotiations, despite women’s organizations having a long history as advocates for disarmament. Such disproportional representation by governments creates a narrow and perhaps biased focus of the work that disarmament bodies are supposed to carry out. At a time when the CD is not carrying out negotiations on any item on its agenda, it is important to consider the consequences of such inactions. Not only is functioning multilateral disarmament machinery a necessity for protecting the national security interests of smaller countries, but progress in disarmament is crucial for enhancing human security, including the protection and empowerment of women.

A few delegations noted the extreme expenditures on armaments and the military and its consequences for impeding development and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, such as promoting gender equality and empower women. Ray Acheson of Reaching Critical Will noted yesterday in New York at the arms trade treaty preparatory committee that, “While military expenditure increases every year, investments in conflict resolution, peace building, and development lags far behind, making clear the links between military spending, the arms trade, violent conflict and the reduction of available resources for social and economic development and gender equality.” It is important to highlight that all multilateral disarmament efforts, in Geneva and New York, should enhance human security, prevent armed conflict and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law as well as build the foundation for decreasing economic inequalities and political instabilities in the world. As we are approaching the annual International Women’s Day, WILPF will hold a seminar at 13:00 on Monday, 7 March in Room IX in the Palais des Nations in Geneva, where the linkages between women and disarmament will be explored in light of the recently adopted UNGA resolution 65/69 and Security Council resolution 1325. The seminar will be open for all delegations and members of civil society.

Next plenary meeting
The CD will meet on Thursday, 3 March at 10:00 am in the Council Chamber. The plenary meeting will be followed by an interactive side event organized by the delegation of Canada with members of the NGO Committee on Disarmament.