Approaching the one-trillion-dollar mark....Approaching the one-trillion-dollar mark... Forty-three years ago, the United Nations was established to save "succeeding generations from the scourge of war" and to promote international peace and security "with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources". Over the years, no subject has received more continuous or serious attention at the United Nations than disarmament. The General Assembly this year is to hold a third special session on disarmament, scheduled from 31 May to 25 June in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . Experts feel there are several reasons it has every chance to become a milestone in the disarmament process. The current relaxation of international tension and improved East-West relations has created a favourable political environment for the session. The 1987 Soviet-American treaty on intermediate-and shorter-range missiles, regarded by many as the world's first major nuclear disarmament nuclear disarmament: see disarmament, nuclear. measure, could give new impetus to the disarmament process. Ongoing negotiations between the two super-Powers in Geneva Geneva, canton and city, Switzerland Geneva (jənē`və), Fr. Genève, canton (1990 pop. 373,019), 109 sq mi (282 sq km), SW Switzerland, surrounding the southwest tip of the Lake of Geneva. , it is hoped, may result in drastic cuts in their strategic nuclear arsenals. Great strides have been made in the Conference on Disarmament Conference on Disarmament (CD) is a multilateral disarmament negotiating forum. Established in 1979, the Conference succeeded the Ten-Nation Committee on Disarmament (1960), the Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament (1962-68) and the Conference of the Committee on towards a global ban on the production, stockpiling stock·pile n. A supply stored for future use, usually carefully accrued and maintained. tr.v. stock·piled, stock·pil·ing, stock·piles To accumulate and maintain a supply of for future use. and use of chemical weapons. The Final Document of the 1987 International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development--adopted by consensus--set forth ideas which received near-universal support. However, despite all these positive signs, concern over the arms race grows. Numerous efficient deadly weapons deadly weapon n. any weapon which can kill. This includes not only weapons which are intended to do harm like a gun or knife, but also blunt instruments like clubs, baseball bats, monkey wrenches, an automobile or any object which actually causes death. are still being produced. The warheads of a single modern nuclear submarine have more explosive power than all the munitions mu·ni·tion n. War materiel, especially weapons and ammunition. Often used in the plural. tr.v. mu·ni·tioned, mu·ni·tion·ing, mu·ni·tions To supply with munitions. used in the Second World War. Between 1960 and 1980, world expenditures for military purposes almost doubled in real terms--today estimated at in excess of $900 billion a year. If present trends continue, the astounding a·stound tr.v. a·stound·ed, a·stound·ing, a·stounds To astonish and bewilder. See Synonyms at surprise. [From Middle English astoned, past participle of astonen, figure may well reach $1 trillion a year. To check alarming trends... The third special session will review and appraise appraise v. to professionally evaluate the value of property including real estate, jewelry, antique furniture, securities, or in certain cases the loss of value (or cost of replacement) due to damage. the present international situation, especially in light of the vital objective of terminating the arms race and the pressing need to achieve substantial progress in the field of disarmament. It will also: . assess the implementation of the decisions and recommendations adopted at the first and second special sessions of the General Assembly on disarmament, held in 1978 and 1982; . consider a comprehensive programme of disarmament; . assess developments and trends, including qualitative and quantitative aspects, relevant to the disarmament process to elaborate appropriate concrete and practical measures and, if necessary, additional principles, taking into account the principles and priorities established in the 1978 Final Document of the first special session; . consider the role of the United Nations in the field of disarmament and of the effectiveness of the disarmament machinery; and . review United Nations information and educational activities in the field of disarmament, including measures to mobilize world public opinion in favour of disarmament. Steps to the session In 1983, the General Assembly took the decision to convene a third special session on disarmament not later than 1988. An open-ended preparatory committee, created in 1986, has drawn up a provisional agenda for the session and studied all pertinent matters relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc it. Chaired by Ambassador Mansur Ahmad of Pakistan, the Committee held three sessions: in December 1986, May-June 1987 and January-February 1988. It was recommended that Member States be represented at the special General Assembly at the highest possible political level. Non-governmental organizations “NGO” redirects here. For other uses, see NGO (disambiguation). A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a legally constituted organization created by private persons or organizations with no participation or representation of any government. concerned with disarmament and peace and disarmament research institutions were to be accorded the same facilities as those which they had received at the first and second special sessions. The report of the Preparatory Committee, in its annex, also includes an informal paper prepared by the Chairman of the Committee, which contains suggested elements to be dealt with under substantive agenda items: nuclear and conventional weapons in all aspects; chemical and biological weapons; prevention of an arms race in outer space; verification and compliance; confidence-building measures Confidence-building measures (CBMs) are certain techniques which are designed to lower tensions and make it less likely that a conflict would break out through a misunderstanding, mistake, or misreading of the actions of a potential adversary. ; naval arms race and disarmament; zones of peace; the relationship between disarmament and development; and elements related to the "machinery" of the United Nations in the field of disarmament. The Committee agreed to transmit the Chairman's paper to the third special session, without prejudice Without any loss or waiver of rights or privileges. When a lawsuit is dismissed, the court may enter a judgment against the plaintiff with or without prejudice. When a lawsuit is dismissed without prejudice to the position of any delegation. The Committee also asked the Secretary-General to submit to the special session three reports: a summary of developments in the field of arms limitation and disarmament since 1982, including the status of negotiations in bilateral and various multilateral forums; objective information on military matters; and the World Disarmament Campaign. Other studies will also be available, such as on the climatic and potential physical effects Physical effects is the term given to a sub-category of special effects in which mechanical or physical effects are recorded. Physical effects are usually planned in preproduction and created in production. of nuclear war, including "nuclear winter", and on economic and social consequences of the arms race and military expenditures. The special session will also have before it reports from the Conference on Disarmament, the Disarmament Commission, the Ad Hoc Committee ad hoc committee A committee formed with the purpose of addressing a specific issue or issues, which theoretically is disbanded once its raison d'etre is finished on the World Disarmament Conference The Disarmament Conference of 1932-34 (sometimes World Disarmament Conference or Geneva Disarmament Conference) was an effort by member states of the League of Nations, together with the U.S. and the Soviet Union, to actualise the ideology of disarmament. and the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean Indian Ocean, third largest ocean, c.28,350,000 sq mi (73,427,000 sq km), extending from S Asia to Antarctica and from E Africa to SE Australia; it is c.4,000 mi (6,400 km) wide at the equator. It constitutes about 20% of the world's total ocean area. . Largest meeting ever From 23 May to 30 June 1978, the General Assembly held its tenth special session--its first devoted entirely to disarmament. It was the largest, most representative meeting of nations ever gathered to consider issues related to disarmament. All Member States participated in the work of the session. Representatives of 126 of them, including 19 Heads of State or Government, 51 Foreign Ministers and many other high-ranking officials, took part in the general debate. For the first time in the history of disarmament negotiations, the international community achieved consensus agreement on a comprehensive disarmament strategy, embodied in the Final Document of the session. It is considered the guideline for all disarmament efforts within and outside the United Nations. The 129-paragraph Document stresses the central role and primary responsibility of the United Nations in the field of disarmament. It specifies measures intended to strengthen the international and multilateral machinery dealing with disarmament issues within the United Nations system. Its Introduction states that the accumulation of weapons, particularly nuclear weapons, constitutes "much more a threat than a protection for the future of mankind". It made clear that while the final objective of the efforts of all States should continue to be general and complete disarmament Reductions of armed forces and armaments by all states to levels required for internal security and for an international peace force. Connotation is "total disarmament" by all states. under effective international control, the immediate goal was to eliminate the danger of a nuclear war and to implement measures to halt and reverse the arms race and "clear the path towards lasting peace". The Declaration states: "Mankind is confronted with a choice: we must halt the arms race and proceed to disarmament or face annihilation annihilation In physics, a reaction in which a particle and its antiparticle (see antimatter) collide and disappear. The annihilation releases energy equal to the original mass m multiplied by the square of the speed of light c, or E = m ". It stresses that disarmament measures should be adopted "in such an equitable and balanced manner as to ensure...that no individual State or group of States may obtain advantages over others at any stage. At each stage the objective should be undiminished security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces". It also made clear that disarmament and arms limitation agreements should provide for "adequate measures of verification satisfactory to all parties concerned in order to create the necessary confidence and ensure that they are being observed by all parties". The Final Document's Programme of Action specifies priorities for disarmament negotiations: nuclear weapons; other weapons of mass destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or , including chemical weapons; conventional weapons, including any which may be deemed to be excessively injurious in·ju·ri·ous adj. 1. Causing or tending to cause injury; harmful: eating habits that are injurious to one's health. 2. or to have indiscriminate in·dis·crim·i·nate adj. 1. Not making or based on careful distinctions; unselective: an indiscriminate shopper; indiscriminate taste in music. 2. effects; and reduction of armed forces. Nuclear disarmament, the Document stated, would require urgent negotiation of agreements for cessation of the qualitative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems; cessation of the production of all types of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery; and a comprehensive, phased programme with agreed time-frames for progressive and balanced reduction of stockpiles of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time. The General Assembly in 1979 declared the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, stating that its goals were the halting and reversing of the arms race; the conclusion of agreements on disarmament according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. objectives and priorities of the Final Document; the strengthening of international peace and security in keeping with the Charter of the United Nations; and the reallocation of resources The provision of logistic resources by the military forces of one nation from those deemed "made available" under the terms incorporated in appropriate NATO documents, to the military forces of another nation or nations as directed by the appropriate military authority. from military to developmental purposes, particularly in favour of the developing countries. The second special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament--held in New York from 7 June to 10 July 1982--aimed at invigorating in·vig·or·ate tr.v. in·vig·or·at·ed, in·vig·or·at·ing, in·vig·or·ates To impart vigor, strength, or vitality to; animate: "A few whiffs of the raw, strong scent of phlox invigorated her" the disarmament process. The Assembly was addressed by 18 Heads of State or Government and 44 Foreign Ministers. Altogether, more than 140 States took part in the general debate, many expressing concern over continued lack of progress towards disarmament. More than 3,000 representatives of 450 non-governmental organizations in 47 countries around the world also attended the session. Due to a difficult international situation and differences of view among the Member States, the special session agreed only on a Concluding Document, procedural in nature. That Document, however, unanimously and categorically reaffirmed the validity of the 1978 Final Document as well as the solemn commitment to it of all States Members of the United Nations. The Assembly in 1982 also expressed its profound preoccupation over the danger of war, particularly nuclear war, and urged Member States to consider as soon as possible proposals designed to secure its avoidance. It stressed the need for further strengthening the role of the United Nations in the field of disarmament and enhancing the effectiveness of the disarmament machinery. On the opening day of its 1982 special session, the Assembly launched the World Disarmament Campaign and agreed on the expansion of the United Nations programme of fellowships on disarmament. PHOTO : "Give Peace a Chance"--a board game devised by 11-year-old Michelle Alexanderfrom Fresno, PHOTO : California, who plays a round with the UN Secretary-General. PHOTO : PHOTO : Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated for disarmament outside the UN during the PHOTO : 1982 special session. |
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