Political and security committee holds special meeting to observe Disarmament Week to highlight need for arms control.

Political and Security Committee holds special meeting to observe Disarmament Week to highlight need for arms control 

"The massive and competitive build-up of arms, particularly nuclear weapons . . . far from promising greater security for any State or any group of States, has actually placed humanity on the precipice of self-extinction', Ali Alatas (Indonesia), Chairman of the First (Political and Security) Committee, declared at a special 31 October meeting in observance of Disarmament Week (24-31 October). "Without common security for all, there may well be a future for none.'

It was the eighth annual celebration of Disarmament Week. In their statements, the speakers--the Secretary-General, General Assembly President and representatives of five regional groups, as well as the First Committee Chairman--recalled the purpose of the Week--to publicize the urgent need for disarmament measures--and urged a recommitment by the international community to end the arms race.

"What is the purpose of observing a Disarmament Week and paying homage to a goal in word when nothing is being done in deed?' asked Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar. "The answer is that the nonfulfillment of the goal provides no justification for abandoning the effort.'

For arms limitation to have any chance, Mr. Perez de Cuellar said, it was vital that the public mind "not settle in a fatalistic stance vis-a-vis the present disastrous course'. International relations must be based on common interest rather than fear and competition in arms, and that end must be pursued "with a force and conviction that neither partial successes nor temporary setbacks can diminish'.

Assembly President Jaime de Pinies (Spain) called for renewed efforts by nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon States together to find ways to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and curb the conventional arms race. Although the world community was anxiously awaiting the results of the forthcoming meeting between the leaders of the two major nuclear Powers, Mr. de Pinies observed, "that should not make us forget the primary responsibility and central role of the United Nations' in disarmament affairs.

Michael O. Ononaiye (Nigeria), on behalf of the African Group, said Africa had been the first region to support nuclear non-proliferation. Unfortunately, South Africa had frustrated that aim. African States had called on the United Nations to pressure the apartheid regime to renounce nuclear capability, become a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and place its nuclear installations under International Atomic Energy Agency safe-guards.

Dia-Allah El-Fattal (Syrian Arab Republic), Chairman of the Asian Group, said billions of dollars were wasted every year on developing the war machine, while people were dying of hunger and living in grinding poverty. The international community must "listen to the voice of reason . . . [and] the majority of mankind' calling for a nuclear freeze and commitment by all nuclear-weapon States to non-first-use of nuclear weapons.

Guennadi Oudovenko (Ukrainian SSR), Chairman of the Group of Eastern European States, said the destructive power of today's weaponry "made war suicidal madness'. To halt the arms race, the desire for military supremacy must be renounced, barriers of hostility between States must be overcome, mutual restraint must be exercised in international relations and good will demonstrated in negotiations. It was not the fault of socialist States, he said, that no agreements had been reached on non-first-use of nuclear weapons, non-militarization of space and ending nuclear stockpiling, or that elaboration of treaties on chemical weapons and a comprehensive test ban had been delayed.

Pedro Daza (Chile), on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group, said the region could show concrete examples of its dedication to disarmament: the Treaty of Tlatelolco prohibiting nuclear weapons and the Contadora Group's initiatives on confidence-building, verification and arms control. But despite peace efforts all over the world, there was a proliferation of armed conflicts and an increase in weapons stockpiling and trade. By the end of the century, 30 countries would be participating in that "horrifying rivalry'. The international community must renew its commitment to the principles of the Charter and give highest priority to peace and development initiatives.

Robert McDonagh (Ireland), on behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States, said that with the potential now available for man to destroy not only his own kind but also the planet, it was "scarcely surprising' that disarmament should occupy so much time and attention. The United Nations could play an important role as a source of information in support of the disarmament process. In observing Disarmament Week, the international community could rededicate itself to maintaining peace and security, and to the ultimate objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control.

Photo: Humanity is "on the precipice of self-extinction'.