Conference 'back on centre stage.' (United Nations Conference on Disarmament)(includes related article on disarmament machinery at the United Nations)

Ad hoc committees on a nuclear-test ban, prevention of an arms race in outer space, effective international arrangements to assure security for nonnuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and transparency in armaments were established by the Conference on Disarmament during the first part of its 1993 session (19 January-25 March, Geneva).

Other items on the Conference's agenda were: cessation of the nuclear-arms race and nuclear disarmament; prevention of nuclear war; new types of weapons of mass destruction and new weapons systems; radiological weapons; a comprehensive programme of disarmament; and the role of the Conference itself.

On 18 February, the Conference adopted two reports for consideration by the General Assembly's First Committee (Political and Security) at its resumed session in March.

Regarding the Secretary-General's report entitled "New dimensions of arms regulation and disarmament in the post-cold-war era", the Conference reported (CD/1183) that in the new international environment, the "very concept of disarmament and arms regulation as a key element in pursuit of overall international security" was being expanded and enriched.

A multilateral approach

Together with unilateral measures and bilateral and regional arrangements, disarmament needed a "multilateral approach" since it was a "collective responsibility". As the "sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community", the Conference had an "increased role to play".

To fulfil its new and enhanced tasks, the Conference decided to "intensify consultations on its improved and effective functioning" and on issues relating to its membership and agenda.

In a second report (CD/1184), the Conference informed the First Committee that it was continuing its review of its agenda, membership and methods of work. To that end, it decided to continue consultations to identify specific items for future review, and appointed a Special Coordinator to consider the possible expansion of its membership, and another to review the issue of its agenda.

Use momentum

The end of the cold war had brought disarmament "back on to the centre stage", and the Conference "should now take advantage of the momentum created by the successful conclusion of the Chemical Weapons Convention" to make progress on other important issues, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said in a message to the Conference read out on 19 January by Vicente Berasategui, his Personal Representative to the Conference and its Secretary-General.

As the previous balance of power between two military blocs had been "replaced by instability and volatility in many regions of the globe", the process of multilateral disarmament became an "integral part of peacemaking and peace-keeping", the statement continued.

Opening the session, the Conference President for January and February, Celso Amorim of Brazil, said collective thinking was required to "contribute to the reassessment of the multilateral arms control and disarmament machinery", so that the Conference would continue to "play its important role as a negotiating body for disarmament-related issues".

A number of developments in important disarmament areas were highlighted during Conference debate.

Stephen Ledogar of the United States, also speaking on behalf of the Russian Federation, announced formally the signing in Moscow on 3 january of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START II), which would reduce the total number of the two countries' strategic nuclear weapons "by two thirds below current levels". The Treaty would eliminate the "most destabilizing class of strategic weapons"--all multiple-warhead missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Foreign Minister Margaretha Af Ugglas of Sweden on 4 February expressed concern over the "increased risk of clandestine transfers" of weapons from the new republics of the former Soviet Union. She said Sweden was assisting several members of the Commonwealth of Independent States in strengthening borders and customs control.

Streamlining UN disarmament machinery

Stressing the need for multilateral arms control and disarmament machinery to respond to the new "multifaceted realities of international security", the First Committee (Political and Security) on 12 March recommended further rationalization of the work of disarmament bodies: the Disarmament Commission; the Conference on Disarmament; and the Committee itself.

The Committee expressed itself during a five-day resumed session (8-12 March, New York) in resolution 47/54 G adopted by the General Assembly in April.

Reaffirming the Disarmament Commission's role as a "specialized deliberative body" within the UN disarmament machinery, the Assembly recommended its continued reform to enable it to focus on a limited number of priority issues.