FN's nedrustningskommissions rapport 2003

Fra Erik Arnsted fra FN-Forbundet har vi modtaget link til FN's nedrustningskommissions rapport for 2003.

Hele rapporten kan findes på: http://www.un.dk/doc/A.58.0042.pdf 

Vi har lagt en del af rapporten her:

I. The importance of nuclear disarmament and the interrelationship between nuclear disarmament and international peace, security and stability

II. Achievements and current developments in nuclear disarmament

III. Mechanisms dealing with nuclear disarmament and the role of the 
United Nations

IV. Conclusions 

Chairman's proposal

Ways and means to achieve nuclear disarmament

I. The importance of nuclear disarmament and the interrelationship between nuclear disarmament and international peace, security and stability

1. "The attainment of the objective of security,  which is an inseparable element of peace, has  always been one of the most profound aspirations of humanity. States have for a long time sought to maintain their security through the possession of arms … Yet the accumulation of weapons, particularly nuclear weapons, today constitutes much more a threat than a protection for the future of mankind." (1 

2. The nuclear disarmament process is closely  intertwined with international peace and security. Progress in measures to strengthen the security of States and to improve the international situation in general is essential for disarmament, including nuclear disarmament. Conversely, advancement in the process of disarmament will positively impact on the establishment of a peaceful, secure and stable international environment. It is therefore in the interest of all States to contribute to the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, whether on a unilateral basis or through bilateral, plurilateral, regional or multilateral arrangements. 

3. The proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects is also a matter of universal concern.  Measures to prevent nuclear proliferation in all  its aspects, as well as the proliferation of other  types of weapons of mass destruction and their 
means of delivery, reinforce efforts for nuclear  disarmament and are important in providing a  positive international security environment for  the advancement of nuclear disarmament.  Similarly, progress in nuclear disarmament  reinforces non-proliferation efforts. Furthermore, 
there is an interrelationship between nuclear  disarmament and non-proliferation and regional  security situations. 

__________________ 
(1 Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly. 6 A/58/42 

4. Through the years, the growing recognition by  Governments of the threat posed by nuclear weapons to international peace and security and  their interest in safeguarding the security of  their people have led, inter alia, to the conclusion of a number of multilateral treaties providing for nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, some of which have yet to enter into force. (2 

5. Recent developments have raised serious concern and presented significant challenges to  international peace and security and to global  disarmament efforts. They include the growing  risk of terrorists acquiring weapons of mass  destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, which  was highlighted after the tragic events of 11 
September 2001 in the United States, as well as  the updating of strategic defence doctrines in a  manner that sets out new rationales for the use  of nuclear weapons, and the risk of nuclear weapon proliferation. While appropriate measures will have to be envisaged in order to address the new risks and dangers that arise from such developments, it is worthwhile to recall that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. 

6. Success in the disarmament process also requires that all States strictly abide by the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and comply with all the provisions of Treaties and other legal instruments to which they are party, and refrain from actions which might adversely affect the pursuit of universal, comprehensive and nondiscriminatory efforts in the field of disarmament, including promoting adherence to  relevant treaties and other legal instruments. 

II. Achievements and current developments in nuclear disarmament 

7. The international community has remained seized of the question of nuclear disarmament as a priority of the United Nations and with the  question of nuclear non-proliferation. While progress has been made in both these areas, the  record has been mixed. Threats from the use or 
threat of use of nuclear weapons persist and  considerable uncertainty remains over the size of  the existing nuclear arsenals and the availability  of nuclear weapons materials. The present section outlines recent developments and achievements in the field of nuclear disarmament. 
__________________ 
(2 These treaties include: the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water (Partial Test-Ban Treaty); the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Outer Space Treaty); the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT); the Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Seabed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof (Seabed Treaty); the Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Moon Treaty); the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco); the South Pacific Nuclear-Free-Zone Treaty (Rarotonga Treaty); the Treaty on the SouthEast Asia Nuclear-Weapon
-Free Zone (Treaty of Bangkok) and the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba). 7 A/58/42 

A. Achievements and developments at the unilateral, bilateral and plurilateral levels 

8. Progress has been made in reducing nuclear  weapons and promoting non-proliferation through unilateral measures taken by the nuclear-weapon States. Progress has occurred for example in the following areas: the dismantlement of strategic and non-strategic nuclear weapons, the reduction of nuclear forces in the status of alert, the withdrawal and dismantlement of delivery vehicles, withdrawal of nuclear weapons on a voluntary basis; the closing-down and dismantlement by some States of nuclear-weapon -related research and development facilities, nuclear testing sites and nuclear weapon related fissile material facilities, the elimination of medium and short-range missiles, the disposal of fissile material removed from military programmes and the withdrawal of nuclear weapons deployed outside their territories. 

9. The nuclear-weapon States have also reaffirmed their commitment to United Nations Security Council resolution 984 (1995) on security  assurances for non-nuclear-weapon States  parties to the NPT. In addition, one nuclear- weapon State has unconditionally forgone the  first-use of nuclear weapons and the use or the 
threat to use nuclear weapons against non- nuclear-weapon States. 

10. At the 2000 NPT Review Conference, the  nuclear-weapon States issued a joint declaration  in which they declared that none of their nuclear  weapons are targeted at any State. The nuclear-
weapon States also committed themselves to  placing, as soon as practicable, fissile materials  designated by each of them as no longer required for military purposes under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or other relevant international verification arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes, to ensure that such material remains permanently outside military programmes. In this connection, they have launched a number of initiatives to provide for the safe and effective management and disposition of such materials. 

11. Moratoria on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions have been declared and remain in effect. 

12. The United States and the Russian Federation  concluded the Treaty on Strategic Offensive  Reductions (the Moscow Treaty), which aims to 
reduce and limit strategic nuclear warheads. The  General Assembly welcomed this Treaty and  recognized its role in helping to establish more  favourable conditions for actively romoting 
security and cooperation and enhancing 
international stability.3 Those reductions, 
however, are not to be seen as a substitute for  irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of,  nuclear weapons. Additional bilateral efforts  have addressed the management and disposition 
of fissile material for their production. 

13. Other relevant developments include: the Final Declaration adopted at the thirteenth summit of  the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries in  February 2003; the Global Partnership against  the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass  Destruction; the New Agenda Coalition's 
initiative, "Towards a Nuclear 
__________________ 
3 Resolution 57/68. 
8 A/58/42
Weapon Free World: the Need for a New Agenda"; 
as well as the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization's "Alliance's Strategic Concept". 

B. Achievements and developments at the regional level 

14. The important contribution of nuclear-weapon- free zones to the strengthening of the nuclear  non-proliferation regime and the process of  nuclear disarmament, as well as to regional and  world peace and security has been universally  recognized. To date, numerous States have 
signed or become parties to treaties establishing  nuclear-weapon-free zones covering more than  50 per cent of the Earth's land mass. 

15. The importance of nuclear-weapon-free zones  has been given added recognition through the  work of the United Nations Disarmament  Commission. In 1993 and 1999, the Commission  unanimously adopted guidelines and  recommendations relating to such zones. The  Commission noted that the Antarctic Treaty 
established the first continental demilitarized  zone. The treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga,  Bangkok and Pelindaba have contributed  towards the achievement of nuclear non- proliferation and disarmament objectives and 
towards keeping the areas covered by those  treaties free of nuclear weapons, in accordance  with international law. 

16. The General Assembly has, since 1980, annually  adopted by consensus a resolution on the  establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in  the Middle East as well as resolutions on the 
establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in  Central Asia since 1997, and has also recognized  the nuclear-weapon-free status of Mongolia. 

C. Achievements and developments at the multilateral level 

17. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear  Weapons (NPT), entered into force in 1970 and  has been signed by a total of 188 States parties.  The outcome of the 1995 Review and Extension  Conference consisted of decisions on  "Strengthening the review process for the  Treaty", on "Principles and objectives for nuclear 
non-proliferation and disarmament" and on  "Extension of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation  of Nuclear Weapons" and one resolution entitled  "Resolution on the Middle East". At the 2000 NPT  Review Conference, States parties adopted a 
Final Document by consensus. In articular, 
States parties agreed on practical steps for the  systematic and progressive efforts to implement  article VI of the Treaty. 

18. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty  (CTBT), adopted by the General Assembly on 10  September 1996, has been signed by 167 States  and ratified by 98 States, including three  nuclear-weapon States. Thirteen States whose  adherence is required for entry into force of the  Treaty have yet to ratify it. Two conferences of 
ratifying States have been held in 1999 and  2001, to consider measures to accelerate the  ratification process and to facilitate the entry  into force of the Treaty. Final declarations were  adopted at both Conferences, and a joint  ministerial declaration was issued by 15 Foreign 
Ministers in September 2002. 

19. The Conference on Disarmament agreed in 1998 on a mandate for the negotiation of a non-
discriminatory, multilateral and internationally  and 9 A/58/42 effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. Since 1999, the Conference on Disarmament has not made any progress due to a lack of agreement on its substantive programme of work. 

20. Other developments include the tenth special  session of the General Assembly, the first  devoted to disarmament, which agreed that  nuclear weapons pose the greatest danger to  mankind and to the survival of civilization and  that effective measures of nuclear disarmament 
and the prevention of nuclear war have the  highest priority; the Millennium Summit, held  from 6 to 8 September 2000, which resolved to  strive for the elimination of weapons of mass  destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to 
keep all options open for achieving that aim,  including the possibility of convening an  international conference to identify ways of  eliminating nuclear dangers; as well as the  Security Council summit meeting in 1992 which  reaffirmed the crucial contributions of  disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation  to international peace and security and  underlined the need for all Member States to  fulfil their obligations in these areas, and further  stressed that the proliferation of all weapons of  mass destruction constituted a threat to  international peace and security. 

III. Mechanisms dealing with nuclear disarmament and the role of the  United Nations 

21. To give effect and provide support to their  efforts in the field of disarmament, in particular  nuclear disarmament, Governments have  created relevant mechanisms and machinery  within and outside the United Nations. They 
have also, within the framework of specific 
multilateral agreements, established 
organizations mandated to implement and 
contribute to the strengthening of those 
agreements. The present section provides a brief  survey of these existing mechanisms. 

A. Mechanisms dealing with nuclear disarmament within the United Nations system 

22. The General Assembly of the United Nations  devotes special attention to the issue of  disarmament, including nuclear disarmament,  through the work of its First Committee, as well  as the Disarmament Commission. In addition,  the General Assembly has held three special 
sessions entirely devoted to disarmament, 
namely, in 1978, 1982 and 1988, addressing  issues that included nuclear disarmament, non- proliferation, peace, security and stability. 

23. The Disarmament Commission, a subsidiary  body of the General Assembly, is a deliberative  body with the function of considering and  making recommendations on various issues in  the field of disarmament. 

24. The Department for Disarmament Affairs  facilitates the process of multilateral deliberation  and negotiation and assists Member States in  promoting, strengthening and consolidating 
multilaterally negotiated principles and norms in  all areas of disarmament. It also provides  support to conferences and meetings of States  parties to multilateral disarmament agreements  and supports the effective implementation of 
those treaties. 10 A/58/42 

25. The Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters  advises the Secretary-General on matters within  the area of arms limitation and disarmament, to  serve as the Board of Trustees of the United  Nations Institute for Disarmament Research  (UNIDIR) and to advise the Secretary-General  on the implementation of the United Nations 
Disarmament Information Programme. 

26. UNIDIR undertakes independent research on  disarmament and related problems, particularly  international security issues. UNIDIR is  mandated to provide the international  community with more diversified and complete  data on problems relating to international  security, the arms race and disarmament. 

B. Other mechanisms dealing with nuclear 
disarmament 

27. The Conference on Disarmament was 
established in 1979 as the single multilateral  disarmament negotiating forum. The Conference  has several nuclear disarmament related items  on its agenda. During the past decade, it  undertook negotiations on the comprehensive 
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. 

29. The Preparatory Commission for the 
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty 
Organization is mandated to carry out the 
necessary preparations for the effective 
implementation of the CTBT and to prepare for  the first session of the Conference of the States  Parties to the Treaty. 

30. The Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear  Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean  (OPANAL) oversees the implementation of the  Treaty of Tlatelolco. The South Pacific Bureau for  Economic Cooperation is responsible for a  reporting system and for the exchange of  information among the States parties to the  Rarotonga Treaty. The Commission for the  South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone is  responsible for implementing the provisions of  the Treaty of Bangkok, including the  establishment of verification and control  procedures.

IV. Conclusions

31. During the course of their deliberations, members of the Disarmament Commission discussed proposals on ways and means to achieve nuclear disarmament. A list of these proposals is contained in the annex (se http://www.un.dk/doc/A.58.0042.pdf ) to the present document. This list does not accord any priority to nor constitute an endorsement of any of the proposals by the Disarmament Commission. It is offered without prejudice to the national positions of Member States of the Commission. A/58/42

32. The Commission endorses a principled, forward-looking approach, taking into account the reality on the ground, to nuclear disarmament and agrees on the importance of producing concrete, timely and practical results that promote nuclear disarmament. In this regard the Commission has endorsed the following general principles:

(i) The ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under effective international control. The highest priority should continue to be the total elimination of nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosives;

(ii) The political will of States and the principle of undiminished security for all are key elements in achieving nuclear disarmament;

(iii) Multilateralism is a fundamental principle in negotiations of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects. The potential value of unilateral, bilateral, regional and plurilateral initiatives that are consistent with these ends is also recognized;

(iv) The importance of full and effective implementation by all States Parties to the NPT of their obligations pursuant to the Treaty and the decisions and resolution of the 1995 Review Conference and the Final Document adopted at the 2000 Review Conference;

(v) Adherence to and full compliance with treaties and other international legal instruments, by their States Parties, in the areas of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects should be promoted;

(vi) All appropriate measures consistent with international law aimed at preventing terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons and the means to manufacture such weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction, including the physical protection of nuclear material and facilities, should be strengthened;

(vii) The United Nations disarmament machinery should play an effective role in promoting the achievement of nuclear disarmament. The Member States affirm the important value of the Disarmament Commission as an appropriate United Nations forum, among others, for future multilateral deliberations on disarmament and means to achieve nuclear disarmament;

(viii) The urgency of recommencing substantive work in the Conference on Disarmament, the international community’s single multilateral negotiating forum for disarmament.