1994 session cites 'increased need for disarmament.' (UN Conference on Disarmament meeting, Jan 25-Mar 31, 1994) (includes news of other UN actions on disarmament and chemical weapons)

With the end of the cold war, the disarmament process had "become a reality", stated Gerard Errera of France, President of the Conference on Disarmament, at the opening of the first part of the body's 1994 session (25 January-31 March, Geneva).

However, he said, if a rule of international security was to be subscribed to and respected by as many States as possible, it had to be drawn up jointly and provide for "collective means of implementation". The time had passed "when two super-Powers could negotiate a disarmament treaty between themselves and then submit it for endorsement by the international community".

In his message to the multilateral negotiating body, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said: "The end of bipolarity had not diminished, but had rather increased the need for disarmament." The disarmament process should be seen as an "integral part of preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peace-keeping and peace-building". And, although the Conference's tasks were daunting, the momentum created by the "many positive break throughs of the past year be maintained".

Of particular note was the Conference decision to launch negotiations on a treaty for a comprehensive nuclear-test ban. Welcomed in General Assembly resolution 48/70, that decision was a "culmination of the efforts of the international community as a whole to bring about the long cherished goal of the total prohibition of nuclear testing", he stressed.

Four committees established

In adopting its agenda, the Conference on 25 January agreed to start work immediately on a nuclear-test ban, prevention of an arms race in outer space, effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and transparency in armaments. Four relevant Ad Hoc Committees were established.

The Ad Hoc Committee on a Nuclear-Test Ban was to negotiate intensively a universal and multilaterally and effectively verifiable comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty, in order to contribute effectively to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects, to the process of nuclear disarmament and, therefore, to the enhancement of international peace and security.

It was to take into account all existing proposals and future initiatives, as well as the work of the Ad Hoc Group of Scientific Experts to Consider International Cooperative Measures to Detect and Identify Seismic Events. At least two working groups--on verification and on legal and institutional issues--were to be created.

Among other agenda items were: cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament; prevention of nuclear war, including all related matters: new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons; radiological weapons; and a comprehensive programme of disarmament.

The Conference appointed a Special Coordinator--Gerald Shannon of Canada--to seek the views of Conference members on the "most appropriate arrangement" to negotiate a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. Lars Norberg of Sweden was appointed Special Coordinator on the review of the agenda of the Conference, and Luiz Lampreia of Brazil was appointed Friend of the Chair on expansion of membership of the Conference.

The Conference approved the participation of 47 non-member States in its work during 1994.

Vladimir Petrovsky, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, was confirmed on 31 March as the Secretary-General of the Conference and the UN Secretary-General's Personal Representative to that body. He had performed those responsibilities on an interim basis since 5 December 1993.

The 38-member Conference--the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating body--consists of five nuclear-weapon States (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States), other militarily significant States, and nonaligned countries, known as the "Group of 21".

Test ban supported

In debate, a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty was widely supported. The United States said it was pursuing two major goals in that regard--the "broadest possible participation", since that was the only way it could fully meet overall non-proliferation objectives, and "cost-effective, robust monitoring and verification measures", to guard against those who might seek to violate its prohibitions.

The Russian Federation, favouring the earliest completion of negotiations, felt it would be counterproductive to link such a ban with any other issues concerning arms control or the strengthening of international security.

China wanted conclusion of a treaty no later than 1996 and said it was actively participating in negotiations on an effectively verifiable instrument that would attract universal adherence.

Algeria, on behalf of the "Group of 21", said that a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty and an international instrument on negative security assurances, together with other nuclear-arms limitation measures, were essential elements of an "effective international regime of nuclear non-proliferation in all its aspects" Advancement of those objectives would decisively influence the outcome of the 1995 Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference.

Membership

If the Conference really wanted to comply with the role of a universal negotiating body, it should "subscribe to the objective of an extended membership soon", Wolfgang Hoffmann of Germany who assumed the Conference presidency, stated on 24 February in Geneva. That was particularly evident in view of the forthcoming negotiation of a comprehensive ban, he said. The "mounting frustration and anger" of States, which had been applying for membership for years, was understandable.

"Any avenue for a possible solution to the deadlock" should be explored, Mr. Hoffmann stressed. "The future of the Conference on Disarmament is at stake."