(97.04.21)黒河内大使ＵＮＤＣ

　 I should like at the outset to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on your assumption of the chairmanship of the United Nations Disarmament Commission. The delegation of Japan is confident that, under your able guidance, the 1997 substantive session of the UNDC will be a particularly fruitful one. I assure you of my delegation's full cooperation as you discharge your important responsibilities.

　 In recent years we have witnessed significant progress in disarmament in the multilateral framework. The decisions taken at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, including the indefinite extension of the Treaty, and the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in 1996 are major examples of such achievements. Unfortunately, however, we have not yet seen the commencement of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), which is regarded as one of the three important measures for nuclear disarmament in the NPT "Principles and Objectives" of 1995.

　 The Disarmament Commission, which enjoys the participation of all UN Member States, has an important role to play in this context. Specifically, as a deliberative body and a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly, it could serve as a forum for the exchange of forward-looking views among the delegations with a view to recommending various guidelines in the field of disarmament. My delegation hopes that the Commission will in fact strive to fulfill this role.

　 Let me express my delegation's views on each item of the agenda for this year's session. We continue to follow with great interest the development of nuclear-weapon-free zones. The Treaty of Tlatelolco celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of its opening for signature in February this year. France, the United Kingdom and the United States signed the Protocols of the Treaty of Rarotonga in March last year, and the following month, more than forty African countries signed the Pelindaba Treaty and nuclear weapon States signed its protocols. On March 27, the Bangkok Treaty entered into force.

　 The Decision on Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament in 1995 reaffirmed the conviction that the establishment of internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free zones, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, enhances global and regional peace and security. Japan shares this conviction.

　 I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate Japan's long-held position on nuclear-weapon-free zones. In our view, the following conditions must be met for such zones to be effective.

1. The establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone should be supported by all countries concerned, including the nuclear-weapon States. Here I would like to refer to the NPT "Principles and Objectives," which states that "the cooperation of all the nuclear-weapon States and their respect and support for the relevant protocols is necessary for the maximum effectiveness of such nuclear-weapon-free zones and the relevant protocols," and further that "the development of nuclear-weapon-free zones ... should be encouraged as a matter of priority, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region."

　 When these conditions are met, Japan believes that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones can contribute to nuclear non-proliferation, thus strengthen the peace and safety not only of the regions concerned but of the international community as a whole. As the NPT "Principles and Objectives" states, "the establishment of additional nuclear-weapon-free zones by the time of the Review Conference in the year 2000 would be welcome."

　 Regarding the issue of the SSOD IV, with the resolution 51/45C the General Assembly decided, first, "subject to the emergence of a consensus on its objectives and agenda, to convene its fourth special session devoted to disarmament in 1999;" and second, "subject to the outcome of deliberations.... at the 1997 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission, to convene a meeting of the Preparatory Committee... before the end of the fifty-first session of the Assembly in order to set an exact date and to decide on organizational matters..." The resolution further states that the General Assembly "requests the Preparatory Committee to submit its progress report to the Assembly at its fifty-second session." Japan supported this resolution when it was voted upon last year.

　 We are of the view that, if the fourth special session is to be held, it must produce significant results for further progress in disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament. As we are all aware, a special session will certainly place a great financial burden on the United Nations; thus it is important that, through our thorough discussions, we establish a common understanding as to its purpose, agenda and dates. In particular, both the nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States should try to come to a mutually acceptable agreement on these questions.

　 With regard to agenda item six, namely, "Guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament, with particular emphasis on consolidation of peace in the context of the United Nations General Assembly resolution 51/45N," we hope that our deliberations here will find how best we can apply the progress of practical disarmament measures to United Nations' experience in resolution of conflicts and consolidation of peace. We believe that our discussion on this issue will contribute to finding solutions of actual conflicts in the future.

　 Concerning the resolution on small arms, on which my country took an initiative in 1995, the work by a panel group of experts is now under way. We hope that those efforts, together with the advancement of practical disarmament measures, will facilitate conflict resolution, the consolidation of peace and promotion of disarmament.