"Development of Favorable Environment

for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament"

-The Role of the United Nations, the Conference on Disarmament

and other International Organizations

by H.E.Ambassador Akira HAYASHI

at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues

26 November 1998, Nagasaki, Japan

　

　

1.　As was discussed during this conference, the nuclear weapon States have committed themselves to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons and therefore, the global consensus exists for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

　However, the difficult problem still remains on how and when the goal of the elimination of nuclear weapons will be achieved.　Nuclear weapons are considered as central or ultimate among weapons because of their enormous destructiveness, and their existence relates directly to the core of national security policy of a certain number of countries. This is why reaching agreement on nuclear disarmament is extremely difficult.

　

2.　In order to pave the way for their elimination or at least to create an environment in which more intensified nuclear disarmament efforts can be pursued, the following, therefore, will be necessary. The international organizations are in a position to play an important role in those fields.

　First, the improvement of security environment, both international and regional, including confidence building through various measures.

　Second, the strong support of public opinion, both international and national.

　Furthermore, the process of eliminating nuclear weapons will be a complex one. It will consist of various unilateral, bilateral and multilateral measures to be carried out independently or in combination. The multilateral measures, particularly of global nature, should be the domain of appropriate international fora.　

　

3. Against this background, let me share with you some thoughts on the roles of international organizations.　

　

(1)　Various important roles are expected to the United Nations.

　"To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" was the most profound ideal that inspired the founders of the United Nations. The organization thus created is, first of all, responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, a role essential for creating and keeping an favorable global and regional security environment.

　The provisions of the Charter established the necessary framework of general legal and political nature for the promotion of the cause of disarmament and, through the years, have determined the special role of the United Nations in pursuing that goal.

　The special sessions of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament were convened in 1978, 1982 and 1988. These special sessions, especially the first one laid the foundation of the disarmament negotiations thereafter.

　The General Assembly is a permanent forum for disarmament deliberations and its First Committee is mandated to deal exclusively with disarmament and related international security questions. It also recommends draft resolutions to the Plenary Meetings of the General Assembly.

　The Disarmament Commission, UNDC, is another forum used for deliberation on disarmament issues.

　It is clear that both the improvement of the security environment and the strong political will supported by public opinion are essential to promote disarmament in general, and nuclear disarmament in particular. The United Nations provides the means for improving security environment and the opportunities to express a strong political will of the international community.

　Having said that, I am wondering whether the General Assembly or the First Committee is living up to the expectation of the international community. In this matter, many of the resolutions adopted each year are done so routinely and the international community does not pay much attention to them except for a few. Rationalization and reactivation of the work in this regard are necessary.

　It is encouraging to know that the UN seems to be determined to reinvigorate its role for disarmament, as was exemplified by the recent re-establishment of the Department for Disarmament Affairs. I also hope that the initiative will work for better coordination of various and sometimes overlapping activities in the field of disarmament.

　

(2)　 The Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and the NPT review process are of special importance in the multilateral process of nuclear disarmament.　　

　The CD, as it is well known, is the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament. It cannot be denied that bilateral nuclear reduction negotiations between the US and Russia play a decisive role in promoting nuclear disarmament. However, it does not mean that there are no other forms of measures to make the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons more feasible and attainable. The CD has made several important treaties in this field, and the most recent and the best example, is the CTBT. It is expected to negotiate a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty in the coming years as a next step. Of course it will take some time before the negotiations conclude, but it is not too early to start　preparing for the future, for we do not know at all what will follow the FMCT. The FMCT should not be the last step in the multilateral phase to reach our common goal. This is the reason why several delegations including mine have been proposing to discuss nuclear disarmament at the CD. I sincerely hope that the nuclear weapon States understand the necessity to commence discussions on possible future measures.

　

(3)　On the other hand, the role of the NPT review process is no less important than the CD. It is widely recognized that the NPT is the cornerstone of both nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The universality and the full implementation of the treaty are, therefore, indispensable steps towards a world free from nuclear weapons. This process has become even more important with the agreement of 1995 on the　strengthened review process and "the Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament," together with the decision on the indefinite extension of the treaty. The next Review Conference in 2000 will be the first Review Conference after these important decisions were made in 1995 and as such, the next Review Conference can be seen as a touchstone to assess the implementation of the strengthened review process. From this point of view, the importance of the success of the Review Conference cannot be overemphasized. At the 2000 Review Conference, it is widely expected that a new document comparable to the "Principles and Objectives" of 1995 will be agreed upon, reflecting the achievement made in the past and looking forward to the future. The discussion at the CD on possible future measures, which I referred to earlier, will be reflected in the process of producing a new principles-and-objectives type document. In this way, the CD and the NPT review process could work in a complementary manner.　

　

(4)　Regional organizations are expected to play a key role regarding the improvement of security environment in the region. It is much more effective, if the nuclear weapons' programme is interrelated with a regional security concern. In fact, a regional approach is effective and essential as has been demonstrated by the establishment of the nuclear weapon free zones.　

　

(5)　Concluding treaties is important, but the full compliance and universality are equally essential. In this connection, the IAEA is noteworthy as an organization which assumes the important responsibility to ensure the compliance with the obligations of the NPT. The CTBTO is another organization to assume a similar function, although the treaty has not yet entered into force. The good functioning of these organizations is important, because it gives credibility not only to the treaty in question but also to the process of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in general.

　

4.　Before concluding, let me briefly turn your attention to small arms as an example of the UN playing the key role. Unlike weapons of mass destruction, no global rules or agreement has been established on small arms. However, the recent awareness of the international community on this issue is　rapidly growing and many initiatives are being taken by various countries and　international organizations as well as NGOs. Welcoming these developments, I would like to emphasize the importance of a comprehensive and coordinated approach in dealing with small arms issues. The problems raised by small arms are highly complex and multi-faceted, ranging from disarmament, peace-keeping operations, economic and social development to　humanitarian perspectives. From this point of view, I highly appreciate the recent initiative of the UN Secretary General to establish a mechanism of the Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA),　where the UN Department for Disarmament Affairs functions as a focal point. It should also be noted that the Group of Governmental Experts on Small Arms, in accordance with the related UNGA Resolutions, is working actively and in a comprehensive manner under the Secretary General in order to analyse the current situation and to make recommendations on this issue. Japan believes that the UN can play a pivotal role in the international endeavors of tackling the issue on small arms, and it should be in this way that the organization such as the UN is expected to act.