(95.05.15)黒河内大使ＵＮＤＣ

　 Let me, at the outset, extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on your assumption of the chairmanship of the United Nations Disarmament Commission. The Japanese delegation is confident that under your able guidance the 1995 substantive session of the UNDC will be a particularly fruitful one. I assure you, Mr. Chairman, that you may count on the full cooperation of my delegation as you discharge your important responsibilities.

　 The NPT Review and Extension Conference was concluded at the end of last week, after four weeks of intensive and often difficult negotiations. My delegation would like to take this opportunity to reiterate its satisfaction with the outcome, the decision to extend the Treaty indefinitely.

　 Japan is steadfast in its belief that the NPT will continue to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and will also contribute to further progress on nuclear disarmament. It is imperative for all States Parties to the Treaty and especially the nuclear weapon States to strictly observe the letter and spirit of decisions taken in parallel with the NPT extension decision.

　 In this regard, it is highly regrettable that China conducted a nuclear test explosion on 15 May, immediately after the agreement was reached at the NPT Conference that utmost restraint should be exercised in the area of nuclear testing. This latest test is in addition to those it conducted in June and October last year. Japan strongly urges China not to repeat such testing.

　 Three items have been placed on the agenda for this year's UNDC session, namely, the process of nuclear disarmament, international arms transfers, and the Review of the Declaration of the 1990s as the Third Disarmament Decade.

　 In recent years, the prospects for nuclear disarmament seem to have become more promising. My delegation hopes that the Commission will achieve tangible progress this year in nuclear disarmament, benefiting from the in-depth consideration of this issue during the last four weeks. Japan attaches great importance to the early conclusion of a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), no later than 1996, which will contribute to nuclear disarmament as well as to nuclear non-proliferation, and also welcomes the agreement reached at the Conference on Disarmament in March on the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to negotiate a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

　 This Cut-off Treaty, once concluded, will be another important step forward on the path to nuclear disarmament as well as to nuclear non-proliferation. My delegation will spare no effort to contribute to the earliest possible conclusion of a CTBT and also to the early start and steady progress of the cut-off negotiations.

　 While the comprehensive nuclear test ban and cut-off treaties are important for further progress in disarmament and non-proliferation, it would be a mistake to devote ourselves exclusively to nuclear issues. The armed conflicts of the past fifty years have been fought largely with conventional weapons; conventional weapons have taken a tremendous toll in human life. And now, with the end of the Cold War, we are witnessing growing instability in many regions of the world, as long-suppressed ethnic and nationalist rivalries have reemerged. In addition, various countries with substantial arms industries depend on arms exports for an important source of foreign currency. These are just some of the factors that are making it increasingly difficult to curb the flow of conventional arms.

　 Last year the Commission expedited its consideration of measures to restrict the transfer and illicit trade of conventional weapons. It is the view of my delegation that while the legitimate security needs of any State must be respected, it will be an important achievement if we can develop some guidelines as well as practical ways and means, of a political nature, to ensure that restraint is exercised and that the acquisition and supply of conventional arms are effected in a responsible manner.

　 In this respect, the chairman's working paper, presented at last year's session, contains several ideas worthy of our consideration. My delegation is also, of course, willing to consider other concrete proposals that may be forthcoming. The issue of arms transfers, including illicit arms transactions, concerns countries all over the world and is closely related not only to a country's political and security situation but also to its economic and other needs. Perspectives on this issue therefore differ from country to country. In particular, the problem of illicit trade of small arms is closely related to sociopolitical unrest in recipient states as well as to the lack of their ability to control the influx of weapons across their borders.

　 Although it is difficult, due to the complexities of the problem, to set up standard measures which can be applied uniformly in all countries, it would nevertheless be a useful exercise to try to work out some feasible guidelines which every Member State might be expected to observe in conducting its arms transfers.

　 We believe that the enhancement of transparency and openness in arms transactions and national arms control policies is a valuable confidence building measure and an important first step in coping with the issue of international arms transfers.

　 Japan thus hopes that a greater number of States will participate in the UN Register of Conventional Arms so that the system can become truly universal. Moreover, we believe that the establishment, where appropriate, of regional registers, tailored to the specific needs of the region, can be useful in building confidence and could contribute to stability and peaceful relations among the States concerned.