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EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Disarmament Commission

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the countries associated with the EU - Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey - as well as the EFTA countries of Iceland and Norway align themselves with this statement.

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me to congratulate all the members of the Bureau upon their election and you personally as Chairman of the 2003 UNDC session. We are confident that under your able guidance we will reach a successful conclusion on both agenda items. In this regard, I would like to express the appreciation of the European Union for your statement.

I would also like to thank the Under-Secretary-General Mr. Dhanapala for his introductory statement. Since this is the last time Mr. Dhanapala is attending such an important meeting as Head of the Department of Disarmament Affairs (DDA), the EU wishes to thank him for his dedication and good work, performed throughout all these years in promoting the role of the UN in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation.

The United Nations Disarmament Commission resumes its work this year in order to further develop and positively conclude the two items on its agenda, "Ways and Means to achieve Nuclear Disarmament" and "Practical Confidence Building Measures in the Field of Conventional Arms". Our ultimate goal is to present the 58th General Assembly with agreed recommendations, which will be useful for all member states in their policy-making in the respective fields.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union expresses its sincere hope that the cessation and reversal of the arms race that ensued in the wake of the Cold -War will be consolidated in an irreversible manner and that concrete progress in the field of disarmament, and non-proliferation will be achieved. The EU, for its part, will continue to work towards this goal.

Mr. Chairman,

The security of the international community is being challenged, both globally and regionally by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery and the risk that Non-State actors could gain access to those weapons. It is thus of utmost importance that the existing disarmament and non-proliferation agreements are effectively implemented and fully complied with. In this context, the EU reaffirms its commitment to legally binding instruments on arms reduction with provisions ensuring irreversibility, verification and transparency. The EU stresses that preserving the integrity of the NPT and upholding its non-proliferation obligations is vital for international and regional security. The NPT must not be undermined by State Parties seeking to acquire or contribute directly or indirectly to the proliferation of the nuclear weapons. The EU also continues to attach great importance to achieving universal adherence to the Treaty.

The EU continues to view the NPT as the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. Therefore the EU strongly supports the upholding of the principles and effective implementation of the objectives laid down in the Treaty as well as the decisions and the resolutions of the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference and of the Final Document adopted by the 2000 Review Conference.

The EU strongly believes that the UNDC should build on the consensus achieved at the 2000 NPT Review Conference. We therefore consider it important that the report of this UNDC's deliberations reflect the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference. In this context the EU would welcome further development of the paper put forward by the Chairman of the first Working Group.

With respect to the Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference the EU stresses the need to achieve progress in the implementation of the "13 practical steps" contained therein. These steps remain the performance benchmark for nuclear disarmament. The EU calls for:

• the early entry into force of the Comprehensive nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and calls upon all states that have not yet ratified the Treaty to do so without delay and unconditionally, in particular the 13 states whose ratification is required for entry into force. Pending the entry into force of the CTBT, the EU urges all states to abide by a moratorium. In this respect, the EU welcomes the recent decision for the convening of a Conference on the Entry Into Force of the Treaty by the Secretary General of the UN in Vienna from 3-5 September 2003.
  
  
• the immediate start of negotiations in the CD on a non-discriminatory, multilateral, internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices in accordance with the statement of the Special Coordinator in 1995 and the mandate contained therein taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives.
  
  
• the establishment in the CD of an appropriate subsidiary body with a mandate to deal with nuclear disarmament.
  
  
• the entry into force and early implementation of the Moscow Treaty. In this context, the EU reaffirms the importance of the principles of irreversibility and transparency.
  
  
• the preservation and continued implementation of Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), including its verification and transparency mechanisms.
  
  
• the further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons.
  
  
• regular reporting on Article VI and the Middle East in accordance with the Final Document of 2000.
  
  
• the strengthening of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in application of the safeguards agreements and the additional protocols.

The EU acknowledges the importance of the Nuclear Weapon Free Zones (NWFZ), established on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among states of the region concerned. They enhance global and regional peace and security. We welcome and support the signature and ratification by the nuclear weapon states of the relevant protocols to the NWFZs following completion of the necessary consultations.
Mr. Chairman,

The EU deeply regrets that the Conference on Disarmament, as the central multilateral forum at the disposal of the international community for disarmament negotiations, remains inactive for almost seven years as it is unable to agree on a program of work. The effective functioning of the CD is a matter of great urgency for the EU and we remain fully supportive of all efforts that would help overcome the current stalemate. For the EU the starting of an FMCT-Treaty, as mentioned above, continues to be of the highest priority.

The UN Disarmament Commission will also continue to work on "practical Confidence-Building Measures in the field of conventional arms". The EU hopes that fruitful discussions during this session will lead to concrete and comprehensive recommendations in this field, in order to strengthen confidence and security and to achieve disarmament with the building of an environment of cooperative security as its ultimate goal.

The EU, therefore, supports and encourages all the efforts towards the promotion of CSBMs. The UNDC can usefully contribute to this field by the preparation of a list of CSBMs. In this context, the EU welcomes the paper put forward by the Chairman of the second Working Group, which includes principles as well as practical measures. At a later stage, we will table more specific comments and proposals on this paper.

CSBMs are valuable tools in conflict prevention as well as in post-conflict stabilization and rehabilitation. In both situations the essential task of arms control is the creation of a positive process, where measures implemented can create confidence and security through transparency and predictability. This also implies that they are an integrated part of a larger process.

The EU supports and actively promotes the adoption of CSBMs when there is a need for a step by step building of trust and an establishment of new patterns of interaction. In times of increased tension, openness and predictability are more important than ever. This implies, inter alia, verification regimes that ensure the reliability of the provided information.

Consideration could also be given to the establishment, on a voluntary basis, of regional, sub-regional or bilateral CSBMs to meet specific needs. They could complement existing CSBMs or arms control agreements, and they should contribute to strengthening overall security and stability.

The EU encourages States to involve civil society and non-governmental organisations when considering possible new CSBMs as well as, when applicable, implementing such measures.

Mr. Chairman,

The OSCE area is a prime example of where CSBMs have contributed to a new pattern of interaction. Since the first CSBMs were agreed at the Stockholm Conference in the mid-80s, the CFE Treaty and the successive Vienna Documents have been instrumental in the creation of a new military culture of openness and transparency. These documents, along with the Open Skies Treaty, which entered into force in January 2002, constitute the cornerstones of CSBMs on conventional arms in Europe, and are fully supported by the European Union.

CSBMs should cover not only measures, but also principles. The OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security contains norms that are fundamental to the EU Member States and other OSCE participating States. The Code stipulates, inter alia, that all armed forces must be under effective democratic and constitutional control, and have clearly defined tasks. Furthermore, all participating States are committed to educate their military personnel in international humanitarian law, rules governing armed conflict and ensure transparency and public access to information related to the armed forces. The EU expresses the hope that the UNDC will endorse these principles in its recommendations.

The 1998 EU Code of Conduct has ushered in a new degree of transparency between governments in arms transactions by building upon common criteria for arms exports but also by the establishment of an information exchange and consultations mechanism.

The OSCE Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted in November 2000 served as an important inspiration to the Programme of Action that was adopted by the 2001 Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects. The EU hopes that the provisions concerning CSBMs contained in the OSCE Document can be reflected in the work of the upcoming first biennial meeting of states on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects, which will be a essential step in the process leading up to the next conference in 2006.

The Joint Action on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons encompasses CSBMs, and in that spirit we provide technical and financial assistance to many programmes and projects related to SALW.

The EU considers transparency in armaments as fundamental in building confidence and security. In this context, the UN Register of Conventional Arms, which is now in its tenth year of operation, is a key instrument. The EU is committed to securing the widest possible participation in the register, and to improve its relevance and effectiveness in a way that continues to contribute to regional and sub-regional confidence-building efforts. In this context, the EU hopes that this year's review of the scope and operation of the register, secures meaningful expansion of its scope, possibly in the field of small arms and light weapons.

The EU reiterates its endorsement of the 57th UNGA resolution "Consolidation of Peace through Practical Disarmament Measures".

We also recall out support for the May 1996 UNDC Guidelines for Arms Transfers, as well as the April 1999 UNDC guidelines on Conventional Arms control and Limitation and Disarmament with particular emphasis on the consolidation of peace.

Mr. Chairman,

The European Union will continue to actively participate in all appropriate fora to discuss and elaborate concrete CSBMs, which contribute to security and co-operation between all Member States of the United Nations. Under your able guidance and with the work already done by the Chairpersons of the two working groups, I am confident that we will have fruitful deliberations and a productive session of the Disarmament Commission.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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